Ephesians 5

1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.

So then, imitate God since you're his much-loved 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.

Live in love, just as Christ loved you. He gave himself for us, a gift and sacrificial offering to God like a sweet-smelling perfume.

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

Sexual immorality or any kind of indecency or greed should never be mentioned concerning you, as God's people should not be doing such things.

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

Obscene talk, stupid chatter, and coarse jokes are totally inappropriate—instead you should be thanking God.

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.

You know it's absolutely sure that no-one who is sexually immoral, or commits indecency, or who is greedy, or is an idol-worshiper will inherit anything in the kingdom of 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.

Don't let anyone fool you with lying words, for it's because of such things that God's judgment is passed on the children of disobedience.

7 Therefore don’t be partakers with them.

So don't partner with them in this.

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

At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. You are to live as children of light

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

(and the fruit of light is everything that's good and right and true),

10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.

demonstrating what the Lord really appreciates.

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

Don't have anything to do with the pointless things that darkness produces—instead expose them.

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

It's shameful even to speak about the things such people do secretly,

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

but when anything is exposed by the light then it's revealed as it is. Light makes everything visible.

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

That's why it's said, “Wake up, those of you who are sleeping, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

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

So be careful how you live your life, not foolishly, but wisely,

16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

making the best use of opportunities because the days are evil.

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

So don't be ignorant—find out what the Lord's will is.

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

Don't get drunk on wine which will wreck your life, but be filled with the Spirit.

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

Share together with one another, using psalms and hymns and sacred songs, singing and making music to the Lord to express what you feel.

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

Always thank God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Each of you should be willing to accept what others tell you to do out of reverence for Christ.

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

Wives, do what your own husbands tell you to do, as you would if the Lord told you.

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

The husband is head of the wife in the same way as Christ is head of the church—his body and its savior.

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

In the same way that the church does what Christ says, wives should do what their husbands tell them in all things.

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

Husbands, you should love your wives in the same way as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.

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

He made it holy, he made it clean by washing in the water of the word,

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 could make the church his own, with no flaw or blemish or any kind of fault, but holy and blameless.

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

Husbands should love their wives just like this, as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves 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 hated his own body, but feeds it and looks after it, just as Christ does for the church,

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

for we are parts 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.”

“This is why a man leaves his father and mother, and is joined to his wife, and the two are united in one.”

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

This is a deep hidden truth—but I'm talking about Christ and the 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, each husband should love his own wife as he does himself, and the wife should respect her husband.