Ephesians 5
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New American Standard Bible 1995New Living Translation
1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;1Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
2and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.2Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
3But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;3Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.
4and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.4Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
5For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.5You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.6Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.
7Therefore do not be partakers with them;7Don’t participate in the things these people do.
8for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light8For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!
9(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),9For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
10trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.10Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.
11Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;11Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
12for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.12It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.
13But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.13But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them,
14For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."14for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” Living by the Spirit’s Power
15Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,15So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
16making the most of your time, because the days are evil.16Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
17So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.17Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,18Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;19singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
20always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;20And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands
21and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.21And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.22For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.23For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.
24But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.24As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,25For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her
26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,26to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
27that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.27He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
28So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;28In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.
29for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,29No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.
30because we are members of His body.30And we are members of his body.
31FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.31As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”
32This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.32This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.
33Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.33So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.orgHoly 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.
Ephesians 4
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