Ephesians 5:1-6:24 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

Common⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ² and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ³ But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴ And there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ For of this you can be sure, that no immoral, impure, or covetous personsuch a man is an idolaterhas any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not be partners with them; ⁸ for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), ¹⁰ and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹² For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ¹³ But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴ For this reason it is said, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." ¹⁵ Be careful, then, how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of your time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²¹ Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. ²² Wives, be subject 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 himself the Savior. ²⁴ As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject to their husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, ²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷ that he might present the church to himself in all her glory, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and blameless. ²⁸ So husbands ought also to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, ³⁰ because we are members of his body. ³¹ "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." ³² This is a profound mystery; but I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you must also love his wife as himself, and the wife must see that she respects her husband. ⁶ ¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² "Honor your father and mother" (which is the first commandment with a promise), ³ "that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth." ⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. ⁵ Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; ⁶ not in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. ⁷ Render service with good will, as to the Lord, and not to men, ⁸ knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. ⁹ Masters, do the same to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ in addition to all this, taking up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and petition. And with this in view, keep alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also pray for me, that in the opening of my mouth, utterance may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. ²¹ Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. ²² I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. ²³ Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.