Ephesians 6

1 Children, obey your parents, as children of the Lord; for that is but right.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2 ‘Honour thy father and mother’ — this is the first Commandment with a promise —

“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—

3 ‘So that thou mayest prosper and have a long life on earth.’

“that it may go well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

4 And fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up with Christian discipline and instruction.

And fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of Sovereign.

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters, with anxious care, giving them ungrudging service, as if obeying the Christ;

Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;

6 not only when their eyes are on you, as if you had merely to please men, but as slaves of Christ, who are trying to carry out the will of God.

not only when being watched, to please men, but as slaves of the Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7 Give your service heartily and cheerfully, as working for the Master and not for men;

serving with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,

8 for you know that every one will be rewarded by the Master for any honest work that he has done, whether he is a slave or a freeman.

knowing that whatever good each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is slave or free.

9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same spirit. Give up threatening them; for you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in Heaven, and that before him there is no distinction of rank.

And masters, be the same way towards them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

10 For the future, find strength in your union with the Lord, and in the power which comes from his might.

Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground against the stratagems of the Devil.

Put on the full armor of God so as to be able to stand firm against the stratagems of the devil.

12 For ours is no struggle against enemies of flesh and blood, but against all the various Powers of Evil that hold sway in the Darkness around us, against the Spirits of Wickedness on high. (aiōn g165)

Because, our wrestling match is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, against the malignant spirits in the heavenly realms. (aiōn g165)

13 Therefore take up the full armour of God, that, when the evil day comes, you may be able to withstand the attack, and, having fought to the end, still to stand your ground.

That is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, to stand firm, with everything in place.

14 Stand your ground, then, ‘with truth for your belt,’ and ‘with righteousness for your breast-plate,’

So stand firm, having belted your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 And with the readiness to serve the Good News of Peace as shoes for your feet.

and having shod your feet with the readiness of the Gospel of the peace;

16 At every onslaught take up faith for your shield; for with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming darts of the Evil One.

above all, having taken up the shield of the faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the malignant one;

17 And receive ‘the helmet of Salvation,’ and ‘the sword of the Spirit’ — which is the Message of God — always with prayer and supplication.

also, grasp the helmet of the salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's Word spoken;

18 Pray in spirit at all times. Be intent upon this, with unwearying perseverance and supplication for all Christ’s People —

praying at all times in the Spirit, using every prayer and petition, yes being watchful to this end with all perseverance and petition for all the saints

19 And on my behalf also, that, when I begin to speak, words may be given me, so that I may fearlessly make known the inmost truth of the Good News,

—on my behalf too, that when I open my mouth utterance may be given to me with boldness, to make known the mystery of the Gospel,

20 on behalf of which I am an Ambassador — in chains! Pray that, in telling it, I may speak fearlessly as I ought.

for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to do.

21 To enable you, as well as others, to know all that concerns me and what I am doing, Tychicus, our dear Brother and faithful helper in the Master’s Cause, will tell you everything.

Now that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything;

22 I am sending him to you on purpose that you may learn all about us, and that he may cheer your hearts.

whom I have sent to you for this very purpose: that you may know our circumstances and that he may comfort your hearts.

23 May God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ give our Brothers peace, and love linked with faith.

Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.

24 May God’s blessing be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

The grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Amen.