Ephesians 5:17
New International Version
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

New Living Translation
Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

English Standard Version
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Berean Literal Bible
Because of this, do not be foolish, but understand what is the Lord's will,

King James Bible
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

New King James Version
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

NASB 1995
So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

NASB 1977
So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Legacy Standard Bible
On account of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Amplified Bible
Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is.

Christian Standard Bible
So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

American Standard Version
Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Therefore do not be stupid, but understanding what the will of God is.

Contemporary English Version
Don't be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore become not unwise, but understanding what is the will of God.

English Revised Version
Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So don't be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants.

Good News Translation
Don't be fools, then, but try to find out what the Lord wants you to do.

International Standard Version
Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Literal Standard Version
do not become fools because of this, but—understanding what [is] the will of the LORD,

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

New American Bible
Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.

NET Bible
For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord's will is.

New Revised Standard Version
So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

New Heart English Bible
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Weymouth New Testament
On this account do not prove yourselves wanting in sense, but try to understand what the Lord's will is.

World English Bible
Therefore, don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Young's Literal Translation
because of this become not fools, but -- understanding what is the will of the Lord,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Children of Light
16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.…

Cross References
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Colossians 1:9
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

1 Thessalonians 4:3
For it is God's will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality;


Treasury of Scripture

Why be you not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

be.

Ephesians 5:15
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Colossians 4:5
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

understanding.

Deuteronomy 4:6
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

1 Kings 3:9-12
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? …

Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

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Ephesians 5
1. After general exhortations to love;
3. to flee sexual immorality;
4. and all uncleanness;
7. not to converse with the wicked;
15. to walk carefully;
18. and to be filled with the Spirit;
22. he descends to the particular duties, how wives ought to obey their husbands;
25. and husbands ought to love their wives,
32. even as Christ does his church.














(17) Be ye not unwise.--The word here is stronger than in Ephesians 5:15; it is properly senseless, used of "the fool" (in Luke 11:40; Luke 12:20; 1Corinthians 15:36; 2Corinthians 11:16; 2Corinthians 11:19; 2Corinthians 12:6; 2Corinthians 12:11). By it St. Paul emphasises his previous warning; then he adds the explanation that to be "wise" is to "understand what the will of the Lord is"--to know His purpose towards us and towards the world, and so to know the true purpose of our life. Hence we are told in Job 28:28, that "the fear of the Lord is wisdom," or, more precisely, in Proverbs 9:10, that it is "the beginning of wisdom." . . . Verse 17. - Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what is the will of the Lord. The "wherefore" bears on all the preceding argument: because ye are children of light; because light is so valuable and so indispensable; because your whole circumstances demand so much care and earnestness. "Unwise" is equivalent to senseless; "understanding," to both knowing and laying to heart, as in parable of sower: "When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not," i.e. does not consider or ponder it, "then cometh the wicked one," etc. The will of the Lord is the great rule of the Christian life; to know and in the deeper sense understand this, is to walk wisely and to walk surely.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Therefore
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

{do} not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

be
γίνεσθε (ginesthe)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

foolish,
ἄφρονες (aphrones)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 878: Senseless, foolish, inconsiderate. Properly, mindless, i.e. Stupid, ignorant, egotistic, rash, or unbelieving.

but
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

understand
συνίετε (syniete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4920: To consider, understand, perceive. From sun and hiemi; to put together, i.e. to comprehend; by implication, to act piously.

what
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Lord’s
Κυρίου (Kyriou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

will [is].
θέλημα (thelēma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2307: An act of will, will; plur: wishes, desires. From the prolonged form of ethelo; a determination, i.e. choice or inclination.


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NT Letters: Ephesians 5:17 Therefore don't be foolish but understand what (Ephes. Eph. Ep)
Ephesians 5:16
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