| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children | 1Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children |
| 2and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. | 2and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. |
| 3But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. | 3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. |
| 4Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting--all of which are out of character--but rather thanksgiving. | 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. |
| 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. | 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a person is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. |
| 6Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God's wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. | 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. |
| 7Therefore do not be partakers with them, | 7Therefore do not be partners with them. |
| 8for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light-- | 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light |
| 9for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth-- | 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) |
| 10trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. | 10and find out what pleases the Lord. |
| 11Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. | 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. |
| 12For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. | 12It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. |
| 13But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. | 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible--and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. |
| 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!" | 14This is why it is said: "Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." |
| 15Therefore be very careful how you live--not as unwise but as wise, | 15Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, |
| 16taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. | 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. |
| 17For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord's will is. | 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. |
| 18And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, | 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, |
| 19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, | 19speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, |
| 20always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, | 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 21and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. | 21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. |
| 22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, | 22Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. |
| 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. | 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. |
| 24But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. | 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. |
| 25Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her | 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her |
| 26to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, | 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, |
| 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. | 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. |
| 28In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. | 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. |
| 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, | 29After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church-- |
| 30for we are members of his body. | 30for we are members of his body. |
| 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. | 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." |
| 32This mystery is great--but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. | 32This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. |
| 33Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. | 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. |
|
