| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. | 1Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children |
| 2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. | 2and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. |
| 3But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. | 3But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. |
| 4Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. | 4Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting--all of which are out of character--but rather 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 can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any 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 nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God's wrath comes on 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 at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light-- |
| 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), | 9for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, 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 rather expose them. |
| 12For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. | 12For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. |
| 13But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, | 13But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. |
| 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 everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says: "Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!" |
| 15Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, | 15Therefore be very careful how you live--not as unwise but as wise, |
| 16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. | 16taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. |
| 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. | 17For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord's will 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, which is debauchery, but be filled by 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, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, |
| 20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, | 20always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, |
| 21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. | 21and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. |
| 22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. | 22Wives, submit 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. | 23because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ 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 submits to Christ, so also wives should submit 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 loved the church and gave himself for her |
| 26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, | 26to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by 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. | 27so that he may present the church to himself as glorious--not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. |
| 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 ought 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 Christ does the church, | 29For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, |
| 30because we are members of his body. | 30for 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 will leave his father and mother and will be joined to 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 mystery is great--but I am actually 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 one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. |
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