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Ephesians 4-6
Young's Literal Translation
Ephesians 4-6
Young's Literal Translation
4 Call upon you, then, do I -- the prisoner of the Lord -- to walk worthily of the calling with which ye were called,
2 with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love,
3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of the peace;
4 one body and one Spirit, according as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all, who [is] over all, and through all, and in you all,
7 and to each one of you was given the grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ,
8 wherefore, he saith, `Having gone up on high he led captive captivity, and gave gifts to men,' --
9 and that, he went up, what is it except that he also went down first to the lower parts of the earth?
10 he who went down is the same also who went up far above all the heavens, that He may fill all things --
11 and He gave some [as] apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] proclaimers of good news, and some [as] shepherds and teachers,
12 unto the perfecting of the saints, for a work of ministration, for a building up of the body of the Christ,
13 till we may all come to the unity of the faith and of the recognition of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to a measure of stature of the fulness of the Christ,
14 that we may no more be babes, tossed and borne about by every wind of the teaching, in the sleight of men, in craftiness, unto the artifice of leading astray,
15 and, being true in love, we may increase to Him [in] all things, who is the head -- the Christ;
16 from whom the whole body, being fitly joined together and united, through the supply of every joint, according to the working in the measure of each single part, the increase of the body doth make for the building up of itself in love.
17 This, then, I say, and I testify in the Lord; ye are no more to walk, as also the other nations walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 being darkened in the understanding, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart,
19 who, having ceased to feel, themselves did give up to the lasciviousness, for the working of all uncleanness in greediness;
20 and ye did not so learn the Christ,
21 if so be ye did hear him, and in him were taught, as truth is in Jesus;
22 ye are to put off concerning the former behaviour the old man, that is corrupt according to the desires of the deceit,
23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and to put on the new man, which, according to God, was created in righteousness and kindness of the truth.
25 Wherefore, putting away the lying, speak truth each with his neighbour, because we are members one of another;
26 be angry and do not sin; let not the sun go down upon your wrath,
27 neither give place to the devil;
28 whoso is stealing let him no more steal, but rather let him labour, working the thing that is good with the hands, that he may have to impart to him having need.
29 Let no corrupt word out of your mouth go forth, but what is good unto the needful building up, that it may give grace to the hearers;
30 and make not sorrowful the Holy Spirit of God, in which ye were sealed to a day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, with all malice,
32 and become one to another kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, according as also God in Christ did forgive you.
5 Become, then, followers of God, as children beloved,
2 and walk in love, as also the Christ did love us, and did give himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet smell,
3 and whoredom, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;
4 also filthiness, and foolish talking, or jesting, -- the things not fit -- but rather thanksgiving;
5 for this ye know, that every whoremonger, or unclean, or covetous person, who is an idolater, hath no inheritance in the reign of the Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with vain words, for because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience,
7 become not, then, partakers with them,
8 for ye were once darkness, and now light in the Lord; as children of light walk ye,
9 for the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth,
10 proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord,
11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of the darkness and rather even convict,
12 for the things in secret done by them it is a shame even to speak of,
13 and all the things reproved by the light are manifested, for everything that is manifested is light;
14 wherefore he saith, `Arouse thyself, thou who art sleeping, and arise out of the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee.'
15 See, then, how exactly ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil;
17 because of this become not fools, but -- understanding what [is] the will of the Lord,
18 and be not drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in the Spirit,
19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the God and Father;
21 subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.
22 The wives! to your own husbands subject yourselves, as to the Lord,
23 because the husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ [is] head of the assembly, and he is saviour of the body,
24 but even as the assembly is subject to Christ, so also [are] the wives to their own husbands in everything.
25 The husbands! love your own wives, as also the Christ did love the assembly, and did give himself for it,
26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed [it] with the bathing of the water in the saying,
27 that he might present it to himself the assembly in glory, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things, but that it may be holy and unblemished;
28 so ought the husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies: he who is loving his own wife -- himself he doth love;
29 for no one ever his own flesh did hate, but doth nourish and cherish it, as also the Lord -- the assembly,
30 because members we are 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 to his wife, and they shall be -- the two -- for one flesh;'
32 this secret is great, and I speak in regard to Christ and to the assembly;
33 but ye also, every one in particular -- let each his own wife so love as himself, and the wife -- that she may reverence the husband.
6 The children! obey your parents in the Lord, for this is righteous;
2 honour thy father and mother,
3 which is the first command with a promise, `That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live a long time upon the land.'
4 And the fathers! provoke not your children, but nourish them in the instruction and admonition of the Lord.
5 The servants! obey the masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to the Christ;
6 not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as servants of the Christ, doing the will of God out of soul,
7 with good-will serving, as to the Lord, and not to men,
8 having known that whatever good thing each one may do, this he shall receive from the Lord, whether servant or freeman.
9 And the masters! the same things do ye unto them, letting threatening alone, having known that also your Master is in the heavens, and acceptance of persons is not with him.
10 As to the rest, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might;
11 put on the whole armour of God, for your being able to stand against the wiles of the devil,
12 because we have not the wrestling with blood and flesh, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual things of the evil in the heavenly places;
13 because of this take ye up the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to resist in the day of the evil, and all things having done -- to stand.
14 Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about in truth, and having put on the breastplate of the righteousness,
15 and having the feet shod in the preparation of the good-news of the peace;
16 above all, having taken up the shield of the faith, in which ye shall be able all the fiery darts of the evil one to quench,
17 and the helmet of the salvation receive, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the saying of God,
18 through all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and in regard to this same, watching in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints --
19 and in behalf of me, that to me may be given a word in the opening of my mouth, in freedom, to make known the secret of the good news,
20 for which I am an ambassador in a chain, that in it I may speak freely -- as it behoveth me to speak.
21 And that ye may know -- ye also -- the things concerning me -- what I do, all things make known to you shall Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful ministrant in the Lord,
22 whom I did send unto you for this very thing, that ye might know the things concerning us, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23 Peace to the brethren, and love, with faith, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!
24 The grace with all those loving our Lord Jesus Christ -- undecayingly! Amen.
Ephesians 4-6
New International Version
Ephesians 4-6
New International Version
Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
4 As a prisoner(A) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy(B) of the calling(C) you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another(D) in love.(E) 3 Make every effort to keep the unity(F) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.(G) 4 There is one body(H) and one Spirit,(I) just as you were called to one hope when you were called(J); 5 one Lord,(K) one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all,(L) who is over all and through all and in all.(M)
7 But to each one of us(N) grace(O) has been given(P) as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended(S) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)(T) 11 So Christ himself gave(U) the apostles,(V) the prophets,(W) the evangelists,(X) the pastors and teachers,(Y) 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ(Z) may be built up(AA) 13 until we all reach unity(AB) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God(AC) and become mature,(AD) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.(AE)
14 Then we will no longer be infants,(AF) tossed back and forth by the waves,(AG) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.(AH) 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love,(AI) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,(AJ) that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows(AK) and builds itself up(AL) in love,(AM) as each part does its work.
Instructions for Christian Living
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer(AN) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.(AO) 18 They are darkened in their understanding(AP) and separated from the life of God(AQ) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.(AR) 19 Having lost all sensitivity,(AS) they have given themselves over(AT) to sensuality(AU) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off(AV) your old self,(AW) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;(AX) 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;(AY) 24 and to put on(AZ) the new self,(BA) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.(BB)
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully(BC) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.(BD) 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]:(BE) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.(BF) 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,(BG) doing something useful with their own hands,(BH) that they may have something to share with those in need.(BI)
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(BJ) but only what is helpful for building others up(BK) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,(BL) with whom you were sealed(BM) for the day of redemption.(BN) 31 Get rid of(BO) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.(BP) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(BQ) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(BR) 5 1 Follow God’s example,(BS) therefore, as dearly loved children(BT) 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us(BU) and gave himself up for us(BV) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.(BW)
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,(BX) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,(BY) because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk(BZ) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.(CA) 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater(CB)—has any inheritance(CC) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[e](CD) 6 Let no one deceive you(CE) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath(CF) comes on those who are disobedient.(CG) 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once(CH) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light(CI) 9 (for the fruit(CJ) of the light consists in all goodness,(CK) righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.(CL) 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,(CM) but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light(CN) becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
15 Be very careful, then, how you live(CR)—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity,(CS) because the days are evil.(CT) 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.(CU) 18 Do not get drunk on wine,(CV) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,(CW) 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.(CX) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks(CY) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Instructions for Christian Households(CZ)
21 Submit to one another(DA) out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands(DB) as you do to the Lord.(DC) 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,(DD) his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands(DE) in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives,(DF) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her(DG) 26 to make her holy,(DH) cleansing[f] her by the washing(DI) with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself(DJ) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.(DK) 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives(DL) 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.(DM) 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.”[g](DN) 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(DO) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.(DP) 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[h](DQ)
4 Fathers,[i] do not exasperate your children;(DR) instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.(DS)
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect(DT) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,(DU) just as you would obey Christ.(DV) 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,(DW) doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,(DX) 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,(DY) whether they are slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours(DZ) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(EA) with him.
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord(EB) and in his mighty power.(EC) 11 Put on the full armor of God,(ED) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,(EE) but against the rulers, against the authorities,(EF) against the powers(EG) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.(EH) 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God,(EI) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,(EJ) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,(EK) 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.(EL) 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,(EM) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(EN) 17 Take the helmet of salvation(EO) and the sword of the Spirit,(EP) which is the word of God.(EQ)
18 And pray in the Spirit(ER) on all occasions(ES) with all kinds of prayers and requests.(ET) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying(EU) for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me,(EV) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly(EW) make known the mystery(EX) of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador(EY) in chains.(EZ) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Final Greetings
21 Tychicus,(FA) the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are,(FB) and that he may encourage you.(FC)
23 Peace(FD) to the brothers and sisters,[j] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.[k]
Footnotes
- Ephesians 4:8 Or God
- Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:18
- Ephesians 4:9 Or the depths of the earth
- Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:4 (see Septuagint)
- Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God
- Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
- Ephesians 5:31 Gen. 2:24
- Ephesians 6:3 Deut. 5:16
- Ephesians 6:4 Or Parents
- Ephesians 6:23 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
- Ephesians 6:24 Or Grace and immortality to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
New International Version (NIV) 
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