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

Live in Love

1 Therefore, bet imitators of God as dearly loved children2 and livet in love, just as Christ also loved uss and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offeringt to God.3 Butt among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind,t or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.t4 Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving.

5 For you can be confident of this one thing:t 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.

Live in the Light

6 Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience.s7 Therefore do not be partakers with them,t8 for you were at one time darkness, but now you aret light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light –9 for the fruit of the lights consists int all goodness, righteousness, and truth –10 trying to learnt what is pleasing to the Lord.11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rathert expose them.t12 For the things they dot in secret are shameful even to mention.13 But all things being exposed by the light are made evident.

14 For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:s
“Awake,t O sleeper!t
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”s

Live Wisely

15 Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise,16 taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.17 For this reason do not be foolish, but be wiset by understandings what the Lord’s will is.18 And do not get drunk with wine, whicht is debauchery,t but be filled by the Spirit,t19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making musict int your hearts to the Lord,20 always giving thanks to God the Father for each othert in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

21 and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.s

Exhortations to Households

22 tss Wives, submits to your husbands as to the Lord,23 because 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.24 But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.25 Husbands, love yourt wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her26 to sanctify her by cleansing hert with the washing of the water by the word,27 so that het may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.t28 In the same wayt husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.29 For no one has ever hated his own bodyt but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church,30 for we are members of his body.s31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will becometone flesh.s32 This mystery is great – but I am actuallyt speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless,t each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself,t and the wife mustt respectt her husband.