5Ephesians 5

1Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children.Select Ephesians 5:1

2Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.Select Ephesians 5:2

3You are God's people, so don't let it be said that any of you are immoral or indecent or greedy.Select Ephesians 5:3

4Don't use dirty or foolish or filthy words. Instead, say how thankful you are.Select Ephesians 5:4

5Being greedy, indecent, or immoral is just another way of worshiping idols. You can be sure people who behave in this way will never be part of the kingdom that belongs to Christ and to God.Select Ephesians 5:5

Living as People of Light

6Don't let anyone trick you with foolish talk. God punishes everyone who disobeys him and says foolish things.Select Ephesians 5:6

7So don't have anything to do with anyone like that.Select Ephesians 5:7

8You used to be like people living in the dark, but now you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the lightSelect Ephesians 5:8

9and make your light shine. Be good and honest and truthful,Select Ephesians 5:9

10as you try to please the Lord.Select Ephesians 5:10

11Don't take part in doing those worthless things that are done in the dark. Instead, show how wrong they are.Select Ephesians 5:11

12It is disgusting even to talk about what is done in the dark.Select Ephesians 5:12

13But the light will show what these things are really like.Select Ephesians 5:13

14Light shows up everything, just as the Scriptures say, “Wake up from your sleep and rise from death. Then Christ will shine on you.”Select Ephesians 5:14

15Act like people with good sense and not like fools.Select Ephesians 5:15

16These are evil times, so make every minute count.Select Ephesians 5:16

17Don't be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do.Select Ephesians 5:17

18Don't destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life.Select Ephesians 5:18

19When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart.Select Ephesians 5:19

20Always use the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to thank God the Father for everything.Select Ephesians 5:20

Wives and Husbands

21Honor Christ and put others first.Select Ephesians 5:21

22A wife should put her husband first, as she does the Lord.Select Ephesians 5:22

23A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Savior of the church, which is his own body.Select Ephesians 5:23

24Wives should always put their husbands first, as the church puts Christ first.Select Ephesians 5:24

25A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.Select Ephesians 5:25

26He made the church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water.Select Ephesians 5:26

27Christ did this, so he would have a glorious and holy church, without faults or spots or wrinkles or any other flaws.Select Ephesians 5:27

28In the same way, a husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself. A husband who loves his wife shows he loves himself.Select Ephesians 5:28

29None of us hate our own bodies. We provide for them and take good care of them, just as Christ does for the church,Select Ephesians 5:29

30because we are each part of his body.Select Ephesians 5:30

31As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother to get married, and he becomes like one person with his wife.”Select Ephesians 5:31

32This is a great mystery, but I understand it to mean Christ and his church.Select Ephesians 5:32

33So each husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself, and each wife should respect her husband.Select Ephesians 5:33