Ephesians 6

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

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

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

“Honour your father and mother” – this is the first Commandment with a promise –

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

“so that you may prosper and have a long life on earth.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

for you know that everyone will be rewarded by the Master for any honest work that he has done, whether he is a slave or free.

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 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.

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

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

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

Put on the full armour of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground against 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 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)

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 take up the full armour of God, so 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.

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

Stand your ground, then, with truth for your belt, and with righteousness for your breastplate,

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

and with the readiness to serve the good news of peace as shoes 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.

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.

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

And receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit – which is the message of God – always with prayer and supplication.

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 in spirit at all times. Be intent on this, with unwearying perseverance and supplication for all Christ’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 on my behalf also, so 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,

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

on behalf of which I am an ambassador – in chains! Pray that, in telling it, I may speak fearlessly 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.

To enable you, as well as others, to know all that concerns me and what I am doing, Tychicus, our dear friend and faithful helper in the Master’s cause, 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 am sending him to you on purpose that you may learn all about us, and that he may cheer your hearts.

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

May God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ give every follower peace, and love linked with faith.

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

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