Ephesians 5
“Follow GOD’s
example, therefore, as dearly loved children
2 and walk in THE WAY OF LOVE, just
as CHRIST loved
us and gave HIMSELF up for us as A FRAGRANT OFFERING AND SACRIFICE TO GOD.
3 But among you
there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of
impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for GOD’s holy people.
4 Nor should there
be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but
rather thanksgiving.
5 For of this you
can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an
idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of CHRIST and of GOD.
6 Let no one
deceive you with empty words, for because of such things GOD’s
wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
7 Therefore do not
be partners with them.
8 For you were
once darkness, but now you are light in THE LORD. Live as children of LIGHT
9 (for the
fruit of THE LIGHT
consists in all GOODNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and TRUTH)
10 and find out
what pleases THE LORD.
11 Have nothing to
do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 It is shameful
even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
13 But everything
exposed by THE LIGHT becomes
visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
14 This is why it
is said:
“Wake up,
sleeper,
rise from the
dead,
and CHRIST will shine on
you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but
as WISE,
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the
days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the LORD’s will is.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.
Instead, be filled with THE
SPIRIT,
19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs
from THE SPIRIT. Sing
and make music from your heart to THE LORD,
20 always giving thanks to GOD THE FATHER for
everything, in the name of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
21 Submit to one
another out of reverence for CHRIST.
22 Wives, submit
yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the LORD.
23 For the husband
is the head of the wife as CHRIST is THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, HIS body, of which HE is THE SAVIOR.
24 Now as the
church submits to CHRIST,
so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love
your wives, just as CHRIST
loved the church and gave HIMSELF up for her
26 to make her
holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through THE WORD,
27 and to present
her to HIMSELF as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other
blemish, but holy and blameless.
28 In this same
way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves
his wife loves himself.
29 After all, no
one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as CHRIST does the
church—
30 for we are
members of his body.
31 “For this reason
a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two
will become one flesh.”
32 This is a
profound mystery—but I am talking about CHRIST and the church.
33 However, each
one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must
respect her husband.”