Ephesians 6

Children, Parents, Slaves, and Masters

1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right. 2“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3“so that it may go well with you and you may live long on the earth.” 4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as you would Christ, 6not with eye-service as people-pleasers, but as Christ’s slaves doing God’s will from the heart. 7Serve with goodwill as serving the Lord and not people, 8knowing that whatever good each person does, they will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. 9Masters, do the same things toward them, giving up threats, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven and that there is no partiality with him.

The Armor of God

10Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the power of his might. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, the cosmic powers of this darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to resist in the evil day and, after accomplishing everything, to stand. 14Stand, therefore, with truth fastened around your waist, wearing the breastplate of righteousness, 15and with your feet prepared with the readiness of the good news of peace. 16In every situation take up the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. 18Pray at every time in the Spirit with every kind of prayer and request. To this end stay alert with all perseverance and prayer for all the holy ones, 19and also for me, that a word may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known the mystery of the good news with boldness, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may speak boldly in it as I ought to speak.

Final Greetings

21So that you also may know about my circumstances and what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything. 22I am sending him to you for this very reason, so that you may know about us and he may encourage your hearts. 23Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with trust, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying love.