Ephesians 5
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New King James VersionHolman Christian Standard Bible
1Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.1Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children.
2And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.2And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
3But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;3But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints.
4neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.4Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.
5For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.5For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God.
6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.6Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God's wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things.
7Therefore do not be partakers with them.7Therefore, do not become their partners.
8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light--
9(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),9for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth--
10finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.10discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.
11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.11Don't participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.
12For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.12For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret.
13But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.13Everything exposed by the light is made clear,
14Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”14for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.
15See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk--not as unwise people but as wise--
16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.16making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
17Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.17So don't be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
18And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,18And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:
19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord,
20giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,20giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21submitting to one another in the fear of God.21submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.
22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.22Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord,
23For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.23for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body.
24Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.24Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives are to submit to their husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her
26that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,26to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.
27that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.27He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.
28So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.28In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.29For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church,
30For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.30since we are members of His body.
31“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”31For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.
32This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.32This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church.
33Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.33To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Ephesians 4
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