Ephesians 5
Paul instructs believers to walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us, to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, and to walk circumspectly, redeeming the time. He teaches on marriage, declaring that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, and that this is a great mystery concerning Christ and the church.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; | Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children |
| 2 | And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. | 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 fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; | But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among You, as is fitting for saints, |
| 4 | Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. | Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not fitting, but rather the giving of thanks. |
| 5 | For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. | For this You know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. |
| 6 | Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. | Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. |
| 7 | Be not ye therefore partakers with them. | Therefore do not be partners with them. |
| 8 | For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: | For You were once darkness, but now You are light in the Lord. Live as children of light |
| 9 | (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) | (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) |
| 10 | Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. | and find out what pleases the Lord. |
| 11 | And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. | Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. |
| 12 | For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. | It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. |
| 13 | But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. | But everything exposed by the light becomes visible — and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. |
| 14 | Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. | This is why it is said: "Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on You." |
| 15 | See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, | Be very careful, then, how You live — not as unwise but as wise, |
| 16 | Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. | making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. |
| 17 | Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. | Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. |
| 18 | And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; | Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless behavior. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, |
| 19 | Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; | speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from Your heart to the Lord, |
| 20 | Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; | always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 21 | Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. | Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. |
| 22 | Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. | Wives, submit yourselves to Your own husbands as You do to the Lord. |
| 23 | For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. | 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 | Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. | Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. |
| 25 | Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; | Husbands, love Your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her |
| 26 | That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, | to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, |
| 27 | That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. | and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. |
| 28 | So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. | In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. |
| 29 | For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: | 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, of his flesh, and of his bones. | For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. |
| 31 | For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. | "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 great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. | This is a profound mystery — but I am talking about Christ and the church. |
| 33 | Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. | However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves Himself, and the wife must respect her husband. |