Ephesians 5

1Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;

1So, follow God’s example in everything you do, because you are his dearly loved children.

2and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.

2Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;

3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, any kind of impurity, or greed. Such sins are not proper for God’s holy people.

4nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks.

4Don't use dirty language, foolish talk, or crude jokes. These are out of place. Instead, let there be thankfulness.

5For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

5You can be sure that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy—which is the same as worshiping an idol—will have any share in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.

6Don’t let anyone fool you with empty excuses for these sins, because the anger of God comes upon those who disobey him.

7Be not ye therefore partakers with them;

7So do not participate in the things these people do.

8for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light

8For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord. Live as people who belong to the light.

9(for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

9For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

10proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord;

10Work at figuring out what pleases the Lord.

11and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them;

11Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.

12for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of.

12It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.

13But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light.

13But when their actions are exposed by the light, their true nature becomes clear.

14Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.

14For anything that is clearly revealed becomes light. That is why it says, 'Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'

15Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise;

15So be very careful how you live. Don't live like ignorant people, but like those who are wise.

16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

16Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

17Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

17Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

18And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;

18Don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.

19speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

19Speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord.

20giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

20And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.

21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

22Wives, submit to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.

23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body.

23For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.

24But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything.

24As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave his life for her.

26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,

26He did this to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.

27that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

27He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and faultless.

28Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself:

28In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.

29for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church;

29No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.

30because we are members of his body.

30And we are members of his body.

31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.

31As the Scriptures say, 'A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.'

32This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church.

32This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.

33Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.

33So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.