International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

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

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

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

4Obscene, flippant, or vulgar talk is totally inappropriate. 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 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.

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.

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

6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

7So do not be partners with them.

7Therefore do not be partakers with them;

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

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

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

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

10Determine what pleases the Lord,

10trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.''

14For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

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.

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.

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

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 the Messiah loved the church and gave himself for it,

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

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

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

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.

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 must love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man 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 has ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, as the Messiah does the church.

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

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

30because we are members of His body.

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."

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

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

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

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

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.org