English Standard Version

International Standard Version

1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

1So be imitators of God, as his dear children.

2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

2Live lovingly, just as the Messiah also loved us and gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to God.

3But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

3Do not let sexual sin, impurity of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints.

4Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

4Obscene, flippant, or vulgar talk is totally inappropriate. Instead, let there be thanksgiving.

5For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

5For you know very well that no immoral or impure person, or anyone who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has 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.

6Do not let anyone deceive you with meaningless words, for it is because of these things that God becomes angry with those who disobey.

7Therefore do not become partners with them;

7So do not be partners with them.

8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

8For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,

9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

9for the fruit that the light produces consists of every form of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

10Determine what pleases the Lord,

11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

11and have nothing to do with the unfruitful actions that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are.

12For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

12For it is shameful even to mention what is done by these disobedient people in secret.

13But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,

13But everything that is exposed to the light becomes visible,

14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

14for the light is making everything visible. That is why it says, "Wake up, sleeper! Arise from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.''

15Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

15So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise,

16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

16making the best use of your time because the times are evil.

17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

17Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

18Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit.

19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

19Then you will recite to one another psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; you will sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts;

20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

20you will consistently give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah;

21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

21and you will submit to one another out of reverence for the Messiah.

22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

22Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as to the Lord.

23For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

23For the husband is the head of his wife as the Messiah is the head of the church. It is he who is the Savior of the body.

24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

24Indeed, just as the church is submissive to the Messiah, so wives must be submissive to their husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

25Husbands, love your wives as the Messiah loved the church and gave himself for it,

26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

26so that he might make it holy by cleansing it, washing it with water and the word,

27so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

27and might present the church to himself in all its glory, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, but holy and without fault.

28In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

28In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself.

29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,

29For no one has ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, as the Messiah does the church.

30because we are members of his body.

30For we are parts of his body—of his flesh and of his bones.

31“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

31"That is why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh."

32This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

32This is a great secret, but I am talking about the Messiah and the church.

33However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

33But each individual man among you must love his wife as he loves himself; and may the wife fear her husband.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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