Walk in Love

5 ^(A)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And ^(B)walk in love, ^(C)as Christ loved us and ^(D)gave himself up for us, a ^(E)fragrant ^(F)offering and sacrifice to God.

³ But ^(G)sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness ^(H)must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴ Let there be ^(I)no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, ^(J)which are out of place, but instead ^(K)let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ For you may be sure of this, that ^(L)everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (^(M)that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ^6 (N)Let no one ^(O)deceive you with empty words, for because of these things ^(P)the wrath of God comes upon ^(Q)the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore ^(R)do not become partners with them; ⁸ for ^(S)at one time you were ^(T)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. ^(U)Walk as children of light ⁹ (for ^(V)the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰ and ^(W)try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ^11 (X)Take no part in the ^(Y)unfruitful ^(Z)works of darkness, but instead ^(AA)expose them. ¹² For ^(AB)it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ¹³ But when ^(AC)anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, ¹⁴ for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

^15 (AG)Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ^16 (AH)making the best use of the time, because ^(AI)the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what ^(AJ)the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(AK)do not get drunk with wine, for that is ^(AL)debauchery, but ^(AM)be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in ^(AN)psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ^20 (AO)giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father ^(AP)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^21 (AQ)submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

^22 (AR)Wives, ^(AS)submit to your own husbands, ^(AT)as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(AU)the husband is the head of the wife even as ^(AV)Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is ^(AW)himself its Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit ^(AX)in everything to their husbands.

^25 (AY)Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and ^(AZ)gave himself up for her, ²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by ^(BA)the washing of water ^(BB)with the word, ²⁷ so ^(BC)that he might present the church to himself in splendor, ^(BD)without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.^{[a] 28} In the same way ^(BE)husbands should 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 does the church, ³⁰ because ^(BF)we are members of his body. ^31 (BG)“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and ^(BH)the two shall become one flesh.” ³² This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. ³³ However, ^(BI)let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she ^(BJ)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

6 ^(A)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ^2 (B)“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), ³ “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” ⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, ^(C)but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Bondservants and Masters

^5 (D)Bondservants,^[a] obey your earthly masters^[b] with fear and trembling, ^(E)with a sincere heart, ^(F)as you would Christ, ⁶ not by the way of eye-service, as ^(G)people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, ^8 (H)knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, ^(I)whether he is a bondservant or is free. ⁹ Masters, do the same to them, ^(J)and stop your threatening, knowing that ^(K)he who is both their Master^[c] and yours is in heaven, and that ^(L)there is no partiality with him.

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, ^(M)be strong in the Lord and in ^(N)the strength of his might. ^11 (O)Put on ^(P)the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against ^(Q)the schemes of the devil. ¹² For ^(R)we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ^(S)the rulers, against the authorities, against ^(T)the cosmic powers over ^(U)this present darkness, against ^(V)the spiritual forces of evil ^(W)in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore ^(X)take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in ^(Y)the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, ^(Z)having fastened on the belt of truth, and ^(AA)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, ^(AB)as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up ^(AC)the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all ^(AD)the flaming darts of ^(AE)the evil one; ¹⁷ and take ^(AF)the helmet of salvation, and ^(AG)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying ^(AH)at all times ^(AI)in the Spirit, ^(AJ)with all prayer and supplication. To that end, ^(AK)keep alert with all perseverance, making ^(AL)supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and ^(AM)also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth ^(AN)boldly to proclaim ^(AO)the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I ^(AP)am an ambassador ^(AQ)in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Final Greetings

^21 (AR)So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, ^(AS)Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. ²² I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may ^(AT)encourage your hearts.

^23 (AU)Peace be to the brothers,^[d] and ^(AV)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all who ^(AW)love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.