Ephesians 6

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Children and Parents

6 Children, obey^(A) your parents as you would the Lord,^[a] because this is right. ²Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment^[b] with a promise, ³so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.^[c]^(B)^[d] ⁴Fathers, don’t stir up anger^(C) in your children, but bring them up in the training^(D) and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

⁵Slaves, obey your human^[e] masters^(E) with fear and trembling,^(F) in the sincerity^(G) of your heart, as to Christ. ⁶Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will^(H) from your heart.^[f] ⁷Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,^(I) ⁸knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. ⁹And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening^(J) them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism^(K) with Him.^(L)

Christian Warfare

¹⁰Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.^(M) ¹¹Put on^(N) the full armor^(O) of God so that you can stand against the tactics^[g] of the Devil. ¹²For our battle is not against flesh^(P) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(Q) against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil^(R) in the heavens.^(S) ¹³This is why you must take up the full armor^(T) of God, so that you may be able to resist^(U) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ¹⁴Stand,^(V) therefore,

with truth^(W) like a belt around your waist,
righteousness^(X) like armor on your chest,^(Y)
¹⁵and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace.^[h]
¹⁶In every situation take the shield^(Z) of faith,^(AA)
and with it you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^(AB)
¹⁷Take the helmet^(AC) of salvation,
and the sword^(AD) of the Spirit,^(AE)
which is God’s word.

¹⁸Pray^(AF) at all times in the Spirit^(AG) with every prayer and request, and stay alert^(AH) in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. ¹⁹Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness^(AI) the mystery of the gospel. ²⁰For this I am an ambassador^(AJ) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.

Paul’s Farewell

²¹Tychicus,^(AK) our dearly loved brother and faithful servant^[i] in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. ²²I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage^(AL) your hearts.^(AM)

²³Peace to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father^(AN) and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.^[j]^[k]