1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. |
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. |
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; |
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. |
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and 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 partakers with them. |
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light |
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), |
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. |
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. |
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. |
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. |
14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." |
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, |
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. |
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. |
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, |
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, |
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, |
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God. |
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. |
23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. |
24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. |
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, |
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, |
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. |
28 So husbands ought to love their own 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 the Lord does the church. |
30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. |
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 great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. |
33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. |