To the Ephesians

1 Paul, an apostle+ of Christ Jesus through God’s will,+ to the holy ones who are [in Ephʹe·sus]* and faithful ones+ in union+ with Christ Jesus:

2 May YOU have undeserved kindness+ and peace+ from God our Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,+ for he has blessed us+ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places+ in union with Christ, 4 just as he chose+ us in union with him before the founding*+ of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish+ before him in love.+ 5 For he foreordained*+ us to the adoption+ through Jesus Christ as sons+ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,+ 6 in praise+ of his glorious undeserved kindness+ which he kindly conferred upon us by means of [his] loved one.+ 7 By means of him we have the release by ransom through the blood+ of that one, yes, the forgiveness+ of [our] trespasses, according to the riches of his undeserved kindness.+

8 This he caused to abound toward us in all wisdom+ and good sense, 9 in that* he made known to us the sacred secret+ of his will. It is according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself+ 10 for an administration*+ at the full limit of the appointed times,+ namely, to gather+ all things together again* in the Christ,+ the things in the heavens+ and the things on the earth.+ [Yes,] in him, 11 in union with whom we were also assigned as heirs,+ in that we were foreordained according to the purpose of him who operates all things according to the way his will counsels,+ 12 that we should serve for the praise of his glory,+ we who have been first to hope* in the Christ.+ 13 But YOU also hoped in him after YOU heard the word of truth,+ the good news about YOUR salvation.+ By means of him also, after YOU believed,* YOU were sealed+ with the promised holy spirit,+ 14 which* is a token+ in advance* of our inheritance,+ for the purpose of releasing by a ransom+ [God’s] own* possession,+ to his glorious praise.

15 That is why I also, since I have heard of the faith YOU have in the Lord Jesus and toward all the holy ones,+ 16 do not cease giving thanks for YOU. I continue mentioning YOU in my prayers,+ 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give YOU a spirit of wisdom+ and of revelation* in the accurate knowledge of him;+ 18 the eyes+ of YOUR heart having been enlightened,+ that YOU may know what is the hope+ to which he called YOU, what the glorious riches+ are which he holds as an inheritance for* the holy ones,+ 19 and what the surpassing greatness of his power+ is toward us believers. It is according to the operation+ of the mightiness of his strength, 20 with which he has operated in the case of the Christ when he raised him up from the dead+ and seated him at his right hand+ in the heavenly places,+ 21 far above every government and authority and power and lordship+ and every name named,+ not only in this system of things,*+ but also in that to come.+ 22 He also subjected all things under his feet,+ and made him head over all things+ to the congregation, 23 which is his body,+ the fullness+ of him who fills up all things in all.+