Ephesians 5:1-6:24 Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children,

Darby⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children, ² and walk in love, even as the Christ loved us, and delivered himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. ³ But fornication and all uncleanness or unbridled lust, let it not be even named among you, as it becomes saints; ⁴ and filthiness and foolish talking, or jesting, which are not convenient; but rather thanksgiving. ⁵ For this ye are [well] informed of, knowing that no fornicator, or unclean person, or person of unbridled lust, who is an idolater, has inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with vain words, for on account of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Be not ye therefore fellow-partakers with them; ⁸ for ye were once darkness, but now light in [the] Lord; walk as children of light, ⁹ (for the fruit of the light [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth,) ¹⁰ proving what is agreeable to the Lord; ¹¹ and do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather also reprove [them], ¹² for the things that are done by them in secret it is shameful even to say. ¹³ But all things having their true character exposed by the light are made manifest; for that which makes everything manifest is light. ¹⁴ Wherefore he says, Wake up, [thou] that sleepest, and arise up from among the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee. ¹⁵ See therefore how ye walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ For this reason be not foolish, but understanding what [is] the will of the Lord. ¹⁸ And be not drunk with wine, in which is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and chanting with your heart to the Lord; ²⁰ giving thanks at all times for all things to him [who is] God and [the] Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting yourselves to one another in [the] fear of Christ. ²² Wives, [submit yourselves] to your own husbands, as to the Lord, ²³ for a husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ [is] head of the assembly. *He* [is] Saviour of the body. ²⁴ But even as the assembly is subjected to the Christ, so also wives to their own husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your own wives, even as the Christ also loved the assembly, and has delivered himself up for it, ²⁶ in order that he might sanctify it, purifying [it] by the washing of water by [the] word, ²⁷ that *he* might present the assembly to himself glorious, having no spot, or wrinkle, or any of such things; but that it might be holy and blameless. ²⁸ So ought men also to love their own wives as their own bodies: he that loves his own wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one has ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as also the Christ the assembly: ³⁰ for we are members of his body; [we are of his flesh, and of his bones.] ³¹ Because of this a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. ³² This mystery is great, but *I* speak as to Christ, and as to the assembly. ³³ But *ye* also, every one of you, let each so love his own wife as himself; but as to the wife [I speak] that she may fear the husband. ⁶ ¹ Children, obey your parents in [the] Lord, for this is just. ² Honour thy father and thy mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, ³ that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest be long-lived on the earth. ⁴ And [ye] fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in [the] discipline and admonition of [the] Lord. ⁵ Bondmen, obey masters according to flesh, with fear and trembling, in simplicity of your heart as to the Christ; ⁶ not with eye-service as men-pleasers; but as bondmen of Christ, doing the will of God from [the] soul, ⁷ serving with good will as to the Lord, and not to men; ⁸ knowing that whatever good each shall do, this he shall receive of [the] Lord, whether bond or free. ⁹ And, masters, do the same things towards them, giving up threatening, knowing that both their and your Master is in heaven, and there is no acceptance of persons with him. ¹⁰ For the rest, brethren, be strong in [the] Lord, and in the might of his strength. ¹¹ Put on the panoply of God, that ye may be able to stand against the artifices of the devil: ¹² because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against principalities, against authorities, against the universal lords of this darkness, against spiritual [power] of wickedness in the heavenlies. ¹³ For this reason take [to you] the panoply of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having accomplished all things, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girt about your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and shod your feet with [the] preparation of the glad tidings of peace: ¹⁶ besides all [these], having taken the shield of faith with which ye will be able to quench all the inflamed darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ Have also the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God`s word; ¹⁸ praying at all seasons, with all prayer and supplication in [the] Spirit, and watching unto this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; ¹⁹ and for me in order that utterance may be given to me in [the] opening of my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the glad tidings, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador [bound] with a chain, that I may be bold in it as I ought to speak. ²¹ But in order that *ye* also may know what concerns me, how I am getting on, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in [the] Lord, shall make all things known to you; ²² whom I have sent to you for this very thing, that ye may know of our affairs and that he may encourage your hearts. ²³ Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God [the] Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption.