1 | Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. |
2 | And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. |
3 | But fornication and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is fitting among saints. |
4 | Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving. |
5 | Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. |
6 | Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. |
7 | Therefore do not associate with them, |
8 | for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light |
9 | (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), |
10 | and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. |
11 | Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. |
12 | For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; |
13 | but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. |
14 | Therefore it is said, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light." |
15 | Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, |
16 | making the most of the time, because the days are evil. |
17 | Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. |
18 | And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, |
19 | addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, |
20 | always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. |
21 | Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. |
22 | Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. |
23 | For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. |
24 | As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. |
25 | Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, |
26 | that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, |
27 | that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. |
28 | Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. |
29 | For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, |
30 | because we are members of his body. |
31 | "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." |
32 | This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church; |
33 | however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. |