Ephesians - Chapter 5 | New International Version

  • 1. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
  • 2. and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
  • 3. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
  • 4. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
  • 5. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
  • 6. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
  • 7. Therefore do not be partners with them.
  • 8. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
  • 9. (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
  • 10. and find out what pleases the Lord.
  • 11. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
  • 12. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
  • 13. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
  • 14. for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
  • 15. Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,
  • 16. making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
  • 17. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
  • 18. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
  • 19. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
  • 20. always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • 21. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
  • 22. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
  • 23. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
  • 24. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
  • 25. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
  • 26. to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
  • 27. and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
  • 28. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
  • 29. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--
  • 30. for we are members of his body.
  • 31. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.
  • 32. This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church.
  • 33. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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