| International Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. | 1Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. |
| 2"Honor your father and mother…" (This is a very important commandment with a promise.) | 2“Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: |
| 3"…so that it may go well for you, and that you may have a long life on the earth." | 3If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” |
| 4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up by training and instructing them about the Lord. | 4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. Slaves and Masters |
| 5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear, trembling, and sincerity, as when you obey the Messiah. | 5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. |
| 6Do not do this only while you're being watched in order to please them, but be like slaves of the Messiah, who are determined to obey God's will. | 6Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. |
| 7Serve willingly, as if you were serving the Lord and not merely people, | 7Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. |
| 8because you know that everyone will receive a reward from the Lord for whatever good he has done, whether he is a slave or free. | 8Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free. |
| 9Masters, treat your slaves the same way. Do not threaten them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. | 9Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites. The Whole Armor of God |
| 10Finally, be strong in the Lord, relying on his mighty strength. | 10A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. |
| 11Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the devil's strategies. | 11Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. |
| 12For our struggle is not against human opponents, but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around us, and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm. | 12For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. |
| 13For this reason, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to take a stand whenever evil comes. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm. | 13Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. |
| 14Stand firm, therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, | 14Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. |
| 15and being firm-footed in the gospel of peace. | 15For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. |
| 16In addition to having clothed yourselves with these things, having taken up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one, | 16In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. |
| 17also take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. | 17Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. |
| 18Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and request. Likewise, be alert with your most diligent efforts and pray for all the saints. | 18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. |
| 19Pray also for me, so that, when I begin to speak, the right words will come to me. Then I will boldly make known the secret of the gospel, | 19And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. |
| 20for whose sake I am an ambassador in chains, desiring to declare the gospel as boldly as I should. | 20I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should. Final Greetings |
| 21So that you may know what has happened to me and how I am doing, Tychicus, our dear brother and a faithful minister in service to the Lord, will tell you everything. | 21To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work. |
| 22I am sending him to you for this very reason, so that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts. | 22I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. |
| 23May peace and love, with faith, be with the brothers, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah! | 23Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. |
| 24May grace be with all who sincerely love the Lord Jesus, the Messiah! | 24May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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