Ephesians 5

1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.

Therefore imitate God, as his dear children,

2 Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

and live a life of love, following the example of the Christ, who loved you and gave himself for you as an offering and a sacrifice to God, that should be fragrant and acceptable.

3 But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned amongst you, as becomes saints;

As for sexual immorality and every kind of impurity, or greed, do not let them even be mentioned among you, as befits Christ’s people,

4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks.

nor shameful conduct, nor foolish talk or jesting, for they are wholly out of place among you; but rather thanksgiving.

5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.

For of this you may be sure – that no one who is unchaste or impure or greedy of gain (for to be greedy of gain is idolatry) has any place awaiting him in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

Do not let anyone deceive you with specious arguments. Those are the sins that bring down the wrath of God on the disobedient.

7 Therefore don’t be partakers with them.

Therefore have nothing to do with such people.

8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

For, although you were once in darkness, now, by your union with the Lord, you are in the light. Live as children of light –

9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,

for the outcome of life in the light may be seen in every form of goodness, righteousness, and sincerity –

10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.

always trying to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.

11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.

Take no part in deeds of darkness, from which no good can come; on the contrary, expose them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

It is degrading even to speak of the things continually done by them in secret.

13 But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light.

All such actions, when exposed, have their true character made manifest by the light.

14 Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

For everything that has its true character made manifest is clear as light. And that is why it is said – “Sleeper, awake! Arise from the dead, and the Christ will give you light!”

15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise,

Take great care, then, how you live – not unwisely but wisely,

16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

making the most of every opportunity; for these are evil days.

17 Therefore, don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Therefore do not grow thoughtless, but try to understand what the Lord’s will is.

18 Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

Do not drink wine to excess, for that leads to profligacy; but seek to be filled with the Spirit of God, and speak to one another in psalms and hymns and sacred songs.

19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord.

20 giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

Always give thanks for everything to our God and Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21 subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.

Submit to one another because you honour and respect Christ.

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Wives should submit to their husbands as submitting to the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the saviour of the body.

For a man is the head of his wife, as the Christ is the head of the church – being indeed himself the Saviour of his body.

24 But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.

But as the church submits to the Christ, so also should wives submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her,

Husbands, love your wives, just as the Christ loved the church, and gave himself for her,

26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

to make her holy, after purifying her by the washing with the water, according to his promise;

27 that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect.

so that he might himself bring the church, in all her beauty, into his own presence, with no spot or wrinkle or blemish of any kind, but that she might be holy and faultless.

28 Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.

That is how husbands ought to love their wives – as if they were their own bodies. A man who loves his wife is really loving himself;

29 For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly,

for no one ever yet hated his own body. But everyone feeds his body and cares for it, just as the Christ for the church;

30 because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.

for we are members of his body.

31 “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.”

For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and be united to his wife; and the man and his wife will become one.

32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly.

In this there is a profound truth – I am speaking of Christ and his church.

33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

However, for you individually, let each love his wife as if she were himself; and the wife be careful to respect her husband.