To the Ephesians
5 Therefore, become imitators of God,+ as beloved children, 2 and go on walking in love,+ just as the Christ also loved YOU+ and delivered himself up for YOU as an offering+ and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling odor.+
3 Let fornication+ and uncleanness of every sort or greediness*+ not even be mentioned among YOU,+ just as it befits holy people;+ 4 neither shameful conduct+ nor foolish talking nor obscene+ jesting, things which are not becoming, but rather the giving of thanks.+ 5 For YOU know this, recognizing it for yourselves, that no fornicator+ or unclean person or greedy person+—which means being an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and of God.*+
6 Let no man deceive YOU with empty words,+ for because of the aforesaid* things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.+ 7 Therefore do not become partakers with them;+ 8 for YOU were once darkness,+ but YOU are now light+ in connection with [the] Lord. Go on walking as children of light, 9 for the fruitage of the light consists of every sort of goodness and righteousness and truth.+ 10 Keep on making sure of what is acceptable+ to the Lord; 11 and quit sharing+ with [them] in the unfruitful works that belong to the darkness,+ but, rather, even be reproving+ [them], 12 for the things that take place in secret by them it is shameful even to relate.+ 13 Now all the things that are being reproved+ are made manifest by the light, for everything that is being made manifest+ is light. 14 Wherefore he* says: “Awake,+ O sleeper, and arise from the dead,+ and the Christ will shine+ upon you.”
15 So keep strict watch that how YOU walk+ is not as unwise but as wise [persons], 16 buying out the opportune time+ for yourselves, because the days are wicked.+ 17 On this account cease becoming unreasonable, but go on perceiving+ what the will+ of Jehovah* is. 18 Also, do not be getting drunk+ with wine, in which there is debauchery,+ but keep getting filled with spirit,+ 19 speaking to yourselves with psalms+ and praises+ to God and spiritual songs, singing+ and accompanying yourselves with music+ in YOUR hearts to Jehovah,* 20 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks+ always for all things to our* God and Father.
21 Be in subjection to one another+ in fear of Christ. 22 Let wives be in subjection+ to their husbands as to the Lord, 23 because a husband is head of his wife+ as the Christ also is head of the congregation,+ he being a savior of [this] body. 24 In fact, as the congregation is in subjection to the Christ, so let wives also be to their husbands in everything.+ 25 Husbands, continue loving YOUR wives,+ just as the Christ also loved the congregation and delivered up himself for it,+ 26 that he might sanctify it,+ cleansing it with the bath of water by means of the word,+ 27 that he might present the congregation to himself in its splendor,+ not having a spot or a wrinkle or any of such things, but that it should be holy and without blemish.+
28 In this way husbands ought to be loving their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself, 29 for no man ever hated his own flesh; but he feeds and cherishes it,+ as the Christ also does the congregation, 30 because we are members of his body.+ 31 “For this reason a man will leave [his] father and [his] mother and he will stick to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”+ 32 This sacred secret+ is great. Now I am speaking with respect to Christ and the congregation.+ 33 Nevertheless, also, let each one of YOU individually so love his wife+ as he does himself; on the other hand, the wife should have deep respect+ for her husband.