New King James Version

English Standard Version

1Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

2And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

3But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

4neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

4Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

5For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

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.

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

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

7Therefore do not be partakers with them.

7Therefore do not become partners with them;

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

8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

9(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

10finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

12For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

12For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

13But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

13But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,

14Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

15See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

15Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

17Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

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

18And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

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

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

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

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

20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

21submitting to one another in the fear of God.

21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

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

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

23For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

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.

24Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

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

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

26that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

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

27that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

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.

28So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

28In the same way husbands should 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 the Lord does the church.

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

30For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

30because we are members of his body.

31“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

31“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

32This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

32This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

33Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

33However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.