Eph 5 | LSB | STEP | Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,

‏ Ephesians 5

Be Imitators of God

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved ^{▼▼Some mss you}us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God ^{▼▼Lit for an odor of fragrance}as a fragrant aroma.

3 But sexual immorality ^{▼▼Lit and all}or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among ^{▼▼Or holy ones}saints; 4 nor filthiness and foolish talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no one sexually immoral or impure or greedy, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them, 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of that light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 ^{▼▼Lit proving what}trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even ^{▼▼Or reprove}expose them. 12 For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are ^{▼▼Or reproved}exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason ^{▼▼Or He}it says,

“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”
15 Therefore look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 On account of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, ^{▼▼Lit in which is}for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to ^{▼▼Or yourselves}one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to ^{▼▼Lit the God and Father}God, even the Father; 21 ^{▼▼Lit being subject}and being subject to one another in the ^{▼▼Or reverence}fear of Christ.

Wives and Husbands

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church ^{▼▼Lit glorious}in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also 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 great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she ^{▼▼Lit fear, cf. 5:21}respects her husband.