Efesierbrevet 4
1 Så förmanar jag nu eder, jag fången i Herranom, att I vandren såsom tillbörligit är, i den kallelse, der I uti kallade ären;
Therefore I, who am in prison because [I serve] the Lord [Jesus], urge you, whom God has chosen [to be his people, to do these things]: Conduct your lives as [God’s people] should.
2 Med alla ödmjukhet och saktmodighet; med tålamod, unddragandes den ene den andra i kärlekenom;
Always be humble, and do not demand your own rights. Be patient [with each other], and, because you love each other, endure each other’s ([irritating] behavior/behavior that you do not like).
3 Vinnläggande eder att hålla Andans enhet genom fridsens band;
[God’s] Spirit has caused you to be united [with one another], so do all that you can to remain united [with one another] by acting peacefully [toward each other].
4 En kropp, och en Ande, såsom I ock kallade ären uti ett edars kallelses hopp;
[All we believers form just one group] [MET], and we have only one [Holy] Spirit. Similarly, you were chosen {[God] chose you} in order that you all might confidently keep expecting one [set of good] things [from God].
5 En Herre, en tro, ett dop, en Gud, och allas våra Fader;
There is only one Lord, [Jesus Christ]. We all believe the same [teaching about him. It was to show that we belong to him] alone that [we had someone] baptize us.
6 Hvilken är öfver eder alla, genom eder alla, och i eder alla.
There is one God, who is the [spiritual] Father of all [us believers]. He [rules] over all his people; he enables all his people [to do powerful things] (OR, he sustains all his people); and his [Spirit lives] in all his people.
7 Men hvarjom och enom af oss är gifven nåd, efter Christi gåfvos mått.
Christ has generously given to each one of us spiritual gifts, just like he decided to give them.
8 Derföre säger han: Han är uppstigen i höjden, och hafver fört fängelset fånget, och hafver gifvit menniskomen gåfvor.
[When Christ gave] gifts to his people, [it was similar to what the Psalmist said about God receiving tribute money] from those whom he had conquered, When he ascended to heaven, he gave as gifts to people the things [that he had taken] from the people whom he captured:
9 Men det han uppfaren är, hvad är det annat än han for först härned, uti de nedersta jordenes rum?
The words ‘he ascended’ certainly imply/indicate [RHQ] that Christ had also previously descended to the earth.
10 Den der nederfor, han är ock den der uppfor öfver alla himlar, på det han skulle all ting uppfylla.
Christ, who descended [to earth], is also the one who ascended to the most exalted position in heaven, in order that he might show his power [MTY] throughout the universe.
11 Han hafver ock somliga satt till Apostlar, somliga till Propheter, somliga till Evangelister, somliga till herdar och lärare;
He appointed some people to be apostles. He appointed some people to be (prophets/ones who reveal messages that come directly from God). He appointed some people to be (evangelists/ones whose work is to tell others the message about Christ). He appointed some people to lead and teach [the congregations].
12 Att de helige skola skickelige vara till ämbetsens verk, genom hvilket Christi lekamen må uppbyggd varda:
[He appointed all of these] in order that they would prepare God’s people to do [God’s] work, so that all the people who belong to Christ [MET] might become [spiritually] mature.
13 Tilldess att vi alle kommom till ena tro, och Guds Sons kunskap, och vardom en fullkommen man, den der är uti Christi fullbordiga ålders mått;
He wants all of us [believers] to be united [because] we all believe in the Son of God (OR, the man who was also God) and [because] we all know [him]. He wants us to become spiritually mature; that is, he wants us to be (perfect/all that God wants us to be), [just like] Christ was ([perfect/all that God wanted him to be]).
14 På det vi icke mer skolom vara barn, och låta oss beveka och omföras af allahanda lärdomsväder, genom menniskors skalkhet och illfundighet, med hvilka de falla till, att de måga bedraga oss.
Then we will no longer be [spiritually immature], like [MET] little children [are immature]. We will no longer be constantly [changing what we believe, like] [MET] waves of the sea are [constantly changing as the wind blows and] tosses them back and forth. We will not allow people who teach [what is false] and who scheme to deceive/influence us.
15 Men varom rättsinnige i kärlekenom, och växom till i all stycke i honom, som hufvudet är, Christus;
Instead, by loving [others] as we behave as [God’s] truth requires (OR, speak in a loving manner what is true), we will become more and more like Christ in every way. He is the one [who controls/guides all his people] [MET], [just like a person’s] head [controls/guides his] body.
16 Af hvilkom hele kroppen tillhopafogas, och en lem hänger intill den andra genom all ledamöten, der den ene tjenar dem andra, efter det verk som hvar lem hafver i sitt mått, och gör att kroppen växer sig sjelf till förbättring, genom kärleken.
He [enables all those who belong to him to mature spiritually. A person’s body grows stronger, as] each part of the body is joined to the others by the ligaments and as each part (functions properly/works as it should). Similarly, believers will become mature [spiritually] by loving each other and by each of them doing the work [that God wants them to do] [MET].
17 Så säger jag nu, och betygar det i Herranom, att I icke mer vandren såsom de andre Hedningar vandra, i deras sinnes fåfängelighet;
The Lord [Jesus] has authorized me to strongly tell you that you must no longer conduct your lives like unbelievers do. The futile/worthless way in which they think [MET] [controls how they conduct their lives].
18 Hvilkas förstånd förmörkradt är, och de bortkomne ifrå det lif som af Gudi är, genom den fåvitsko som i dem är, och genom deras hjertas blindhet;
They are unable to think clearly [MET] [about what is right and what is wrong]. Because they have decided that they do not want to know about God and because they stubbornly [IDM] refuse to [listen to his message], they do not have the [eternal] life that God [gives us].
19 Hvilke, sedan de vordo förstockade, gåfvo de sig sjelfva uti otukt, till att bedrifva all orenlighet, samt med girighet.
The result is that because they have ceased (to care/to be concerned) [about what is right and what is wrong], they have (deliberately committed themselves to doing/wholeheartedly decided to do) the shameful things that their bodies want, and they commit all kinds of immoral acts, and continually are eager to do more of those things.
20 Men I hafven icke så lärt Christum;
But when you learned [about] Christ, you did not learn [to behave] like that.
21 Om I annars honom hört hafven, och uti honom lärde ären, huru ett rättsinnigt väsende är i Jesu.
I am sure that you heard the message about [Christ], and because you are people who have a close relationship with him, you were taught {[others] taught you} the true [way to live] that Jesus [showed us].
22 Så lägger nu bort ifrån eder den gamla menniskan, der I förra med umgingen, hvilken genom lustar i villfarelse sig förderfvar;
[You were taught] {[They taught you]} that you must put aside [MET] your evil nature; [that is, that you must not behave like you formerly did]. Your evil desires deceived you, making you want to do evil things and causing you to think that [doing that was good for you]; and your thinking like that was destroying you [spiritually].
23 Och förnyer eder i edar sinnes anda;
Others taught you that instead, you must let [God’s Spirit] change the way you think,
24 Och ikläder eder den nya menniskona, den efter Gud skapad är, i sannskyldiga rättfärdighet och helighet.
and that you must start being [MET] the new persons that God made you to become. That is, your [behavior] must be righteous and truly/genuinely devout.
25 Derföre, lägger bort lögnen, och taler sanningen, hvar och en med sin nästa; efter vi ärom inbördes lemmar.
Therefore, quit lying to one another. Instead, because we all belong to just one group [of believers], speak truthfully to each other.
26 Vredgens och synder icke; låter icke solena gå ned öfver edra vrede.
If you get angry, do not sin [as a result of] getting angry. Before the end of the day [MTY], stop being angry;
27 Gifver ock icke lastarenom rum.
[by doing that], you will not allow the devil to make you do evil.
28 Den der stulit hafver, han stjäle icke mer; utan heldre arbete med sina händer det godt är; på det han något skall hafva dela med den som nödtorftig är.
Those who have been stealing must not steal any longer. Instead, they should work hard to earn (their living/what they need) ([by] their own efforts/[by] what they do themselves) [MTY], in order that they may have [something] to give to those who are needy.
29 Intet ohöfviskt tal gånge utaf edar mun; utan det nyttigt är till förbättring, der det behöfves; att det må dem, som det höra, till tacka vara.
Do not use [MTY] foul language. Instead, say only things that are useful for helping people when they need help, things that will help [spiritually] the people that you talk to.
30 Och bedröfver icke Guds Helga Anda, der I med beseglade ären till förlossningenes dag.
[God has given you his] Spirit (to confirm/to assure you) that some day [God will claim all] you people [whom Christ has] redeemed [MET], [just like people confirm that something belongs to them by] putting their seal on it. So do not cause God’s Holy Spirit to be sad ([by the way you talk/by the things that you say]).
31 All bitterhet och grymhet, och vrede, och rop, och hädelse vare långt ifrån eder, samt med alla ondsko.
Do not be resentful at all towards others. Do not become angry in any way. Never shout abusively at others. Never (slander/say bad things about) others. Never act maliciously/be mean in any way.
32 Men varer inbördes till hvarannan vänlige, godhjertige; och förlåter den ene dem andra, såsom ock Gud genom Christum hafver förlåtit eder.
Be kind to one another. Act mercifully toward each other. Forgive each other, just like God forgave you because of [what] Christ [has done].
