EphesiansChapter 5

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1So copy God in everything you do, because you are his dearly loved children. 2Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us. He gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice to God. It was like a sweet smell to God. 3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual sin. There must not be any kind of impure living, or greed. These are not right for God's people. 4There must be no dirty talk, foolish talk, or crude jokes. These do not fit who you are. Instead, give thanks to God. 5You can be sure of this. No one who lives in sexual sin, or who is impure, or greedy, will have any share in the kingdom of Christ and of God. A greedy person is really worshiping an idol. 6Do not let anyone fool you with empty words. Because of these sins, God's anger is coming on those who disobey him. 7So do not join in with them. 8You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. 9The fruit of the light is found in all that is good, right, and true. 10Try to find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the useless things people do in the dark. Instead, bring them out into the open. 12It is shameful even to talk about what those who disobey do in secret. 13But when the light shows things for what they are, they can be clearly seen. And everything the light shines on becomes light too. 14That is why it is said,
"Wake up, sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
15So be very careful how you live. Do not live like people who are not wise. Live like people who are wise. 16Make the most of every chance you get, because the days are evil. 17So do not be foolish. Understand what the Lord wants. 18Do not get drunk on wine. That leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music to the Lord in your hearts. 20Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21Submit to one another because you honor Christ. 22Wives, submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord. 23The husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church. The church is his body, and he is its Savior. 24The church submits to Christ. In the same way, wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25Husbands, love your wives. Love them just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. 26He did this to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her with water through the word. 27He did this so he could bring her to himself as a glorious church. She will have no stain or wrinkle or any other flaw. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body. Instead, he feeds it and takes care of it. That is just what Christ does for the church. 30We are parts of his body. 31"That is why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. And the two will become one flesh." 32This is a deep mystery. But I am talking about Christ and the church. 33But this is also true for each one of you. Each husband must love his wife as he loves himself. And the wife must respect her husband.