Ephesians

1Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.

2Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

3But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;

4nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks.

5Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any 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 on the children of disobedience.

7Therefore don’t be partakers with them.

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

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

10proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.

11Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.

12For it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

13But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light.

14Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

15Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise,

16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17Therefore, don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

18Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

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

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

21subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.

22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.

24But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.

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

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

27that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect.

28Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.

29For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly,

30because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.

31“For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.”

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

33Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Imitators of God

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,

2and walk in love, just as Christ loved usand gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.

3But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.

4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.

5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.

7Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Children of Light

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

9for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

10Test and prove what pleases the Lord.

11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself.

14So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper,rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

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

18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,

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

Wives and Husbands

21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

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

23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.

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

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

26to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

27and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.

28In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

29Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.

30For 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.”

32This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.

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