< Ephesians 6 >
1 You children, because you (belong to/have a close relationship with) the Lord [Jesus], obey your parents, because it is right [for you to do] that.
2 God commanded [in the Scriptures], [Greatly] respect your father and mother. That is the first law [that God] commanded in [which he also] promised [something]. [He promised],
3 [If you do] that, you will prosper, and you will live a long time.
4 You parents (OR, You fathers), do not treat your children so severely that they become angry. Instead, bring them up well by instructing them and by disciplining them in [the manner that] the Lord [Jesus wants you to do].
5 You slaves, obey those who are [your masters]. Obey them very respectfully and sincerely [DOU], just like you obey Christ.
6 Obey them, not only when they are watching [MTY] you, and not only to cause them to think highly/well of you. Instead, obey them as [though you were] [MET] slaves of Christ, [not slaves of your masters]. Do enthusiastically what God wants [you to do].
7 Serve [your masters] zealously/wholeheartedly, as you would serve the Lord [Jesus], not as you would serve [ordinary] people.
8 [Do this because] you know that [some day] the Lord Jesus will reward each person for whatever good [deeds] that person has done. He will reward people who are slaves and people who are not slaves.
9 You masters, just like your slaves [should serve you well], you similarly must treat them well. Stop threatening [to beat] them [if they do not do their work well]. Do not forget you and they have the same Lord who is in heaven. [So he is the one who will say to you and your slaves whether he approves of what you and they have done], and [when he judges people], he does not act more favorably [toward some than he acts toward others].
10 Finally, at all times rely/depend completely on the Lord [Jesus] to strengthen you [spiritually] by his own mighty power.
11 [Just like a soldier] puts on all his (armor/things [to help him fight]) [MET], you should [use every spiritual resource/help that God provides for you], in order that you may successfully resist the devil when he cleverly tries [to oppose you].
12 You must do this because the fighting that we [believers] do is not only against human beings [SYN]. Instead, we are also fighting against evil spirits who rule and have authority over all that is evil [MET] in the world. And we are fighting against evil spirits who are in heavenly places (OR, everywhere). (aiōn )
13 Therefore, [just like a soldier] puts on all his (armor/things to help him fight) [MET], [use well all the spiritual resources/helps that God provides for you]. Do that in order that you may be able to resist successfully the devil and all his powerful evil spirits [MTY] every time they (attack you/tempt you to sin or cause something bad to happen to you). [Do it also in order that] when you have done all that you can to resist them [when they attack you], you will still be ready to resist them [when they attack you the next time].
14 You must be ready to firmly [resist the devil and his evil spirits] [MET], [just like soldiers must be ready to resist the enemy. Prepare for doing that by doing these things]: [To be strong spiritually], hold firmly to [God’s] truth, just like soldiers prepare (to stand firm against/to firmly resist) their enemies by fastening their belts around their waists [MET]. Act righteously [in order to protect yourself against demonic attacks, just like soldiers] put on breastplates [to protect their chests against their enemies’ attacks] [MET].
15 Hold fast the good message [that gives us] peace [with God, just like soldiers] put on their boots firmly [MET] (to stand firm [against/] firmly [resist]) [their enemies].
16 In addition, keep trusting firmly [in the Lord. That will enable you to protect yourselves from anything that Satan], the evil one, [may do to harm you spiritually, just like soldiers] carry shields [to protect themselves against] the arrows that have flaming tips [that their enemies shoot at them] [MET].
17 And [rely/depend on the fact that God] has saved you, [in order to protect yourselves against demonic attacks, just like soldiers] put on a helmet [to protect] their [heads from attacks by] their [enemies] [MET]. And be ready to use [the weapon that God’s] Spirit [has given you], which is the message of God, [in order to fight against] ([demonic powers/Satan]), [just like soldiers] use their swords [to fight against their enemies] [MET].
18 As you are doing that, keep praying [to God] at all times, and requesting him [to do things for you and others; ] and let God’s Spirit [direct what you pray]. For this purpose, always be [spiritually] alert/watchful, and (always be persistent in/never quit) praying for all God’s people.
19 And [specifically], pray for me. Pray that God will tell me what I should say [MTY] whenever I speak, in order that I may boldly tell others the good message about Christ. People did not know that message before, [but God has now revealed it to me].
20 I am (a representative [of Christ]/one who speaks on behalf [of Christ]) [as I tell this message to others, and] I am in prison [MTY] [because of that]. Pray that when I tell [others about Christ], I may speak without being afraid, because that is how I ought to speak.
21 In order that you may know about [what is happening] to me and what I am doing, I am sending Tychicus [to you with this letter]. He will tell you everything [that is happening here]. He is a fellow believer whom we all [(inc)] love very much, and he serves the Lord [Jesus] faithfully.
22 That is the reason that I am sending him [to you]; I want you to know (how my companions and I are/what is happening to my companions and me), and I want him to encourage you [SYN].
23 [I pray that] God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will cause all of you fellow believers to have [inner] peace, and [enable you to] love [each other] and to continue trusting [in Christ].
24 I pray that God will continue to act kindly to [you and] to all [others] who love our Lord Jesus Christ and will never quit loving him.
