Ephesians 6

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

Children, be obedient to your parents as a Christian duty, for it is a duty.

2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise:

"Honour your father and your mother" --this is the first Commandment which has a promise added to it--

3 “that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”

"so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth."

4 You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

And you, fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up tenderly with true Christian training and advice.

5 Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ,

Slaves, be obedient to your earthly masters, with respect and eager anxiety to please and with simplicity of motive as if you were obeying Christ.

6 not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

Let it not be in acts of eye-service as if you had but to please men, but as Christ's bondservants who are doing God's will from the heart.

7 with good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men,

With right good will, be faithful to your duty as service rendered to the Lord and not to man.

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

You well know that whatever right thing any one does, he will receive a requital for it from the Lord, whether he is a slave or a free man.

9 You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.

And you masters, act towards your slaves on the same principles, and refrain from threats. For you know that in Heaven there is One who is your Master as well as theirs, and that merely earthly distinctions there are none with Him.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

In conclusion, strengthen yourselves in the Lord and in the power which His supreme might imparts.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Put on the complete armour of God, so as to be able to stand firm against all the stratagems of the Devil.

12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (aiōn g165)

For ours is not a conflict with mere flesh and blood, but with the despotisms, the empires, the forces that control and govern this dark world--the spiritual hosts of evil arrayed against us in the heavenly warfare. (aiōn g165)

13 Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Therefore put on the complete armour of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground on the day of battle, and, having fought to the end, to remain victors on the field.

14 Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Stand therefore, first fastening round you the girdle of truth and putting on the breastplate of uprightness

15 and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace,

as well as the shoes of the Good News of peace-- a firm foundation for your feet.

16 above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.

And besides all these take the great shield of faith, on which you will be able to quench all the flaming darts of the Wicked one;

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

18 with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints.

Pray with unceasing prayer and entreaty on every fitting occasion in the Spirit, and be always on the alert to seize opportunities for doing so, with unwearied persistence and entreaty on behalf of all God's people,

19 Pray for me, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,

and ask on my behalf that words may be given to me so that, outspoken and fearless, I may make known the truths (hitherto kept secret) of the Good News--

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

to spread which I am an ambassador in chains--so that when telling them I may speak out boldly as I ought.

21 But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things.

But in order that you also may know how I am doing, Tychicus our dearly-loved brother and faithful helper in the Lord's service will tell you everything.

22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state and that he may comfort your hearts.

I have sent him to you for the very purpose--that you may know about us and that he may encourage you.

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

Peace be to the brethren, and love combined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.

May grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with perfect sincerity.