Ephesians 5:1-14

Holman Christian Standard Bible

5 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. ² And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us,^(A) a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. ³ But sexual immorality^(B) and any impurity^(C) or greed^(D) should not even be heard of^[a] among you, as is proper for saints. ⁴ Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. ⁵ For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral^(E) or impure^(F) or greedy^(G) person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom^(H) of the Messiah and of God.

Light versus Darkness

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath^(I) is coming on the disobedient because of these things.^{[b] 7} Therefore, do not become their partners. ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light^(J) in the Lord. Walk as children of light^(K)— ⁹ for the fruit of the light^[c] results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth^(L)— ¹⁰ discerning^(M) what is pleasing^(N) to the Lord. ¹¹ Don’t participate in the fruitless^(O) works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. ¹³ Everything exposed by the light is made clear,^{(P) 14} for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said: