Ephesians 5
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1Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children1Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
2and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.2Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma 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.3Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.
4Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting--all of which are out of character--but rather thanksgiving.4Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to 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. 5You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God's wrath comes on the sons of disobedience.6Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.
7Therefore do not be partakers with them,7Don’t participate in the things these people do.
8for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light--8For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!
9for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth--9For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
10trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.10Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.
11Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.11Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
12For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention.12It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.
13But all things being exposed by the light are made evident.13But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them,
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!" 14for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” Living by the Spirit’s Power
15Therefore be very careful how you live--not as unwise but as wise,15So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
16taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.16Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
17For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord's will is.17Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
18And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit,18Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord,19singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
20always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,20And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands
21and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 21And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord,22For wives, this means submit to your husbands as 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 a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.
24But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.24As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her25For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her
26to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word,26to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s 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.27He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
28In the same way husbands ought to 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 they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for 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,29No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.
30for we are members of his body.30And 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. 31As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”
32This mystery is great--but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church.32This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.
33Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. 33So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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Ephesians 4
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