| King James Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: | 1This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. |
| 2Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. | 2May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Spiritual Blessings |
| 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: | 3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. |
| 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: | 4Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. |
| 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, | 5God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. |
| 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. | 6So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. |
| 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; | 7He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. |
| 8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; | 8He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. |
| 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: | 9God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. |
| 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: | 10And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. |
| 11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: | 11Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. |
| 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. | 12God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. |
| 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, | 13And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. |
| 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. | 14The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom |
| 15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, | 15Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, |
| 16Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; | 16I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, |
| 17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: | 17asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. |
| 18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, | 18I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. |
| 19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, | 19I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power |
| 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, | 20that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. |
| 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: | 21Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. |
| 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, | 22God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. |
| 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. | 23And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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