Ephesians 5

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

5 ¹ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,^{(A) 2} and walk in love, as Christ loved us^[a] and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(B)

Renounce Pagan Ways

³ But sexual immorality and impurity of any kind or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints.^{(C) 4} Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ Be sure of this, that no sexually immoral or impure person or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^(D)

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient.^{[b](E) 7} Therefore do not be associated with them, ⁸ for once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light,^{(F) 9} for the fruit of the light^[c] is found in all that is good and right and true. ¹⁰ Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness; rather, expose them.^{(G) 12} For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly, ¹³ but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴ for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

¹⁵ Be careful, then, how you live,^[d] not as unwise people but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of the time, because the days are evil.^{(I) 17} So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.^{(J) 18} Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,^{(K) 19} as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,^{(L) 20} giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,^{(M) 21} being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

The Christian Household

²² Wives, be subject^[e] to your husbands as to the Lord,^{(N) 23} for the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.^{(O) 24} Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, so that she may be holy and without blemish.^{(P) 28} In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hates his own flesh, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, ³⁰ because we are members of his body.^{[f](Q) 31} “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{(R) 32} This is a great mystery, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. ³³ Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect^[g] her husband.