Ephesians 5

International Standard Version

5 So be imitators of God, as his dear children. ² Live lovingly, just as the Messiah^[a] also loved us^[b] and gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to God. ³ Do not let sexual sin, impurity of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints. ⁴ Obscene, flippant, or vulgar talk is totally inappropriate. Instead, let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ For you know very well that no immoral or impure person, or anyone who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah^[c] and of God.

Living in the Light

⁶ Do not let anyone deceive you with meaningless words, for it is because of these things that God becomes angry with those who disobey.^{[d] 7} So do not be partners with them. ⁸ For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, ⁹ for the fruit that the light^[e] produces consists of every form of goodness, righteousness, and truth. ¹⁰ Determine what pleases the Lord, ¹¹ and have nothing to do with the unfruitful actions that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what is done by these disobedient people^[f] in secret. ¹³ But everything that is exposed to the light becomes visible, ¹⁴ for the light is making everything visible. That is why it says,

Wise Behavior

¹⁵ So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of your time^[i] because the times are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Stop getting^[j] drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit. ¹⁹ Then you will recite to one another psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; you will sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts; ²⁰ you will consistently give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah;^{[k] 21} and you will submit to one another out of reverence for^[l] the Messiah.^[m]

Wives and Husbands

²² Wives, submit yourselves^[n] to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of his wife as the Messiah^[o] is the head of the church. It is he who is the Savior of the body. ²⁴ Indeed, just as the church is submissive to the Messiah,^[p] so wives must be submissive^[q] to their husbands in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives as the Messiah^[r] loved the church and gave himself for it, ²⁶ so that he might make it holy by cleansing it, washing it with water and the word, ²⁷ and might present the church to himself in all its glory, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, but holy and without fault. ²⁸ In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love^[s] their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one has ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, as the Messiah^[t] does^[u] the church.

³⁰ For we are parts of his body—of his flesh and of his bones.^{[v] 31} “That is why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{[w] 32} This is a great secret, but I am talking about the Messiah^[x] and the church. ³³ But each individual man among you must love his wife as he loves^[y] himself; and may the wife fear her husband.