CHAPTER 5

1 Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God, for a smell of delightful fragrance.

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let them not even be named among you, as becometh saints.

4 Or filthiness, foolish talking, jesting; which are not convenient; but rather grace. ¹

5 For this ye know, that no fornicator, or unclean person, or covetous man, who is an idolater, shall obtain inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Let no man deceive you by vain words; for on account of these things cometh the wrath of God on disobedient (or, unbelieving) children, ²

7 Be not ye therefore their companions.

8 Ye were once darkness; but now ye are light in the Lord; walk as children of light;

9 (For the fruit of the light is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth;)

10 Proving what is acceptable to God. ³

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; but rather reprove them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

13 But all things, when they are brought forward, are made manifest by the light; for every thing that maketh manifest is light.

14 Wherefore he saith: Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead; and Christ shall give thee light.

15 See then how you walk carefully, not as fools, but as wise;

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not imprudent, but understanding what is the will of the Lord.

18 And be not drunk with wine, in which is lasciviousness;

19 But be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart, to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God and the Father.

21 Submit yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ (or, of God).

22 Let wives be subject to their own husbands as to the Lord;

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the savior of the church; and he is the savior of the body.

24 But, as the church is subject to Christ, in like manner (let) wives (be subject) to their own husbands in all things.

25 Husbands, love your wives; as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it,

26 That he might sanctify it, cleansing it with the washing of water by the word;

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it might be holy and unblamable.

28 So ought husbands to love their wives, as their own bodies. He who loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it; as also Christ ⁴ the church;

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this reason shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great secret; but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Yet let every one of you love his wife; and let the woman reverence her husband.