Shared Word Translation
Ephesians 5
Walking as Children of Light
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is fitting for holy ones. Obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking—things that are out of place—must not be found among you; instead, there is thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this: everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the reign of Christ and of God.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them.
For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true— and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
For it is shameful even to mention what such people do in secret.
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, sleeper,
and rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Be careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Household Relationships
Wives, to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church—the body of which he is the Savior. Just as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing of water with the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish.
In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates one’s own body, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.”
This mystery is great, and I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.