Ephesians 5

1 Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;2 and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks.5 For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.6 Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them;8 For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light9 (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),10 proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord;11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them;12 for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of.13 But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light.14 Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.15 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise;16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.22 Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body.24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything.25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,27 that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.28 Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself:29 for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church;30 because we are members of his body.31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.32 This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church.33 Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.

Ephesians 5

Chapter 5

Living in the Light

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved ust and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

5 You 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.
6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.7 Don’t participate in the things these people do.8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them,

14 for 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

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands

21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.23 For 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.

24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.t27 He 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.28 In 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.29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.

30 And we are members of his body.
31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”t32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.

33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.