Ephesians 5:1-6:24 Therefore imitate God like beloved children.

NSB⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Therefore imitate God like beloved children. ² Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us. He was an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling odor. ³ Fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among holy ones. ⁴ Nor should there be filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting but rather giving of thanks. ⁵ For you know this with certainty, that no fornicator, no unclean person, no covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words. It is because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Do not be partakers with them. ⁸ You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk (live) (be occupied) as children of light ⁹ for the fruit of the light (life) (spirit) consists of all goodness and righteousness and truth. ¹⁰ Learn what is well pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead reprove (expose) (convict) them. ¹² For the things that are done by them in secret is a shame even to speak about. ¹³ But all things become visible when the light exposes them, for everything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴ For this reason it says: »Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.« ¹⁵ Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise. ¹⁶ Make the most of your time (redeem or ransom back time), because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Do not be foolish, but understand (perceive) what the will of Jehovah is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk with wine, for that is a public act of violence, but be filled with the Spirit. ¹⁹ Speak to one another in psalms and praise and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to Jehovah. ²⁰ Always give thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father. ²¹ Be subject (obedient) (subordinate) to one another in reverence of Christ. ²² Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the congregation, he being the savior of the body. ²⁴ The congregation is subject to Christ. Likewise let the wives also be to their husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the congregation and gave himself up for it. ²⁶ This is so he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word. ²⁷ So he will be able to present the congregation to himself as a glorious congregation, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. It should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ In this way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his own wife loves himself. ²⁹ No man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ also does the congregation. ³⁰ And we are members of his body! ³¹ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and will stick (adhere) (cleave) (be joined) to his wife. The two will become one flesh. ³² This secret is great! I speak with regard to Christ and of the congregation. ³³ Each one of you should love his own wife even as himself. The wife should respect 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 promise. ³ Then it will go well with you, and you may live long on the earth. ⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of God. ⁵ Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of your heart, as to Christ. ⁶ This should not be in the way of eye service, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from a complete heart; ⁷ with goodwill doing service, as to God, and not to men. ⁸ You know that whatever good thing each person does, the same shall he receive again from God, whether he be slave or free. ⁹ You masters, do the same things to them. Do not threaten! You know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven. There is no favoritism with him. ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in his mighty strength. ¹¹ Put on the full armor (every implement) of God, that you may be able to stand against the cunning (inventive) (clever) methods of the devil. ¹² 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 heavenly places. ¹³ For that reason, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore and gird your loins with truth. Put on the breastplate of righteousness. ¹⁵ Shod your feet with the preparation of the good news of peace. ¹⁶ Also take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ With prayer and supplication pray at all times in the Spirit. Watch with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones. ¹⁹ Pray on my behalf, that ability to speak may be given to me, to make known with boldness the secret of the good news. ²⁰ I am an ambassador in chains who should speak boldly. ²¹ That you also may know my affairs, how I do, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make known to you all things. ²² I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts. ²³ Peace be to the brothers, 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 incorruptible (sincere) (principled) (unending) love.