English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

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

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.

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

3But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;

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

4and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

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 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.

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 words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

7Therefore do not become partners with them;

7Therefore do not be partakers with them;

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

8for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

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

9(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

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

10trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

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

11Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;

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

12for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

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

13But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

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 this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."

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

15Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,

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

16making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

21and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

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

22Wives, be subject to your own 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 the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

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

24But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

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

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

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

26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with 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.

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.

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

28So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own 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 ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,

30because we are members of his body.

30because we are members of His body.

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

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.

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

32This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

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

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.

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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