Ephesians 6

Children and Parents

1 Children, obey your parents as the Lord wants, because this is the right thing to do.2 The command says, “Honor your father and mother.” 3 “Then everything will be well with you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” 

4 Fathers, do not make your children angry, but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

5 Slaves, obey your masters here on earth with fear and respect and from a sincere heart, just as you obey Christ.6 You must do this not only while they are watching you, to please them. With all your heart you must do what God wants as people who are obeying Christ.7 Do your work with enthusiasm. Work as if you were serving the Lord, not as if you were serving only men and women.

8 Remember that the Lord will give a reward to everyone, slave or free, for doing good.

9 Masters, in the same way, be good to your slaves. Do not threaten them. Remember that the One who is your Master and their Master is in heaven, and he treats everyone alike.

Wear the Full Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power.11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil’s evil tricks.12 Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world.13 That is why you need to put on God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.14 So stand strong, with the belt of truth tied around your waist and the protection of right living on your chest.15 On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong.16 And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One.17 Accept God’s salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never give up. Always pray for all God’s people.
19 Also pray for me that when I speak, God will give me words so that I can tell the secret of the Good News without fear.

20 I have been sent to preach this Good News, and I am doing that now, here in prison. Pray that when I preach the Good News I will speak without fear, as I should.

Final Greetings

21 I am sending to you Tychicus, our brother whom we love and a faithful servant of the Lord’s work. He will tell you everything that is happening with me. Then you will know how I am and what I am doing.

22 I am sending him to you for this reason—so that you will know how we are, and he can encourage you.
23 Peace and love with faith to you brothers and sisters from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.24 Grace to all of you who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love that never ends.

Ephesians 6

1 Children,t obey your parents in the Lords for this is right.2 “Honor your father and mother,”s which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely,

3 “that it may gotwell with you and that you will liveta long time on the earth.”s

4 Fathers,t do not provoke your children to anger,t but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5 Slaves,t obey your human masterst with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ,6 not like those who do their work only when someone is watchingt – as people-pleasers – but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.t7 Obeyt with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lordt and not people,

8 because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, thiss will be rewarded by the Lord.

9 Masters,t treat your slavest the same way,t giving up the use of threats,t because you know that both you and they have the same master in heaven,t and there is no favoritism with him.

Exhortations for Spiritual Warfare

10 Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power.11 Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemest of the devil.12 For our strugglet is not against flesh and blood,t but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness,ts against the spiritual forcest of evil in the heavens.s13 For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your groundt on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.14 Stand firm therefore, by fastenings the belt of truth around your waist,t by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,15 by fitting yourt feet with the preparation that comes from the good newst of peace,t16 and in all of this,t by taking up the shields of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 And take the helmet of salvations and the swords of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 With every prayer and petition, prayt at all times in the Spirit, and to this endt be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.19 Prayt for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speakt – that I may confidently make knownt the mystery of the gospel,

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.

Farewell Comments

21 Tychicus, myt dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances,t how I am doing.

22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstancest and that he may encourage your hearts.
23 Peace to the brothers and sisters,t and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Grace bet with all of those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.st