1 B e ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

Do as God would do. Much-loved children want to do as their fathers do.

2 a nd walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Live with love as Christ loved you. He gave Himself for us, a gift on the altar to God which was as a sweet smell to God.

3 B ut fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Do not let sex sins or anything sinful be even talked about among those who belong to Christ. Do not always want everything.

4 n either filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Do not be guilty of telling bad stories and of foolish talk. These things are not for you to do. Instead, you are to give thanks for what God has done for you.

5 F or this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Be sure of this! No person who does sex sins or who is not pure will have any part in the holy nation of Christ and of God. The same is true for the person who always wants what other people have. This becomes a god to him.

6 L et no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Do not let anyone lead you in the wrong way with foolish talk. The anger of God comes on such people because they choose to not obey Him.

7 B e not ye therefore partakers with them.

Have nothing to do with them.

8 F or ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

At one time you lived in darkness. Now you are living in the light that comes from the Lord. Live as children who have the light of the Lord in them.

9 ( for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

This light gives us truth. It makes us right with God and makes us good.

10 p roving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Learn how to please the Lord.

11 A nd have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Have nothing to do with the bad things done in darkness. Instead, show that these things are wrong.

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

It is a shame even to talk about these things done in secret.

13 B ut all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

All things can be seen when they are in the light. Everything that can be seen is in the light.

14 W herefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

The Holy Writings say, “Wake up, you who are sleeping. Rise from the dead and Christ will give you light.” Be Filled With the Spirit of God

15 S ee then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

So be careful how you live. Live as men who are wise and not foolish.

16 r edeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Make the best use of your time. These are sinful days.

17 W herefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Do not be foolish. Understand what the Lord wants you to do.

18 A nd be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Do not get drunk with wine. That leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.

19 s peaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Tell of your joy to each other by singing the Songs of David and church songs. Sing in your heart to the Lord.

20 g iving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Always give thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. How Wives Must Live

21 s ubmitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Be willing to help and care for each other because of Christ. By doing this, you honor Christ.

22 W ives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Wives, obey your own husbands. In doing this, you obey the Lord.

23 F or the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. It is His body (the church) that He saves.

24 T herefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

As the church is to obey Christ, wives are to obey their own husbands in everything. How Husbands Must Live

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

Husbands, love your wives. You must love them as Christ loved the church. He gave His life for it.

26 t hat he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Christ did this so He could set the church apart for Himself. He made it clean by the washing of water with the Word.

27 t hat he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Christ did this so the church might stand before Him in shining-greatness. There is to be no sin of any kind in it. It is to be holy and without blame.

28 S o ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

So men should love their wives as they love their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

29 F or no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

No man hates himself. He takes care of his own body. That is the way Christ does. He cares for His body which is the church.

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

We are all a part of His body, the church.

31 F or this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

For this reason, a man must leave his father and mother when he gets married and be joined to his wife. The two become one.

32 T his is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

This is hard to understand, but it shows that the church is the body of Christ.

33 N evertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

So every man must love his wife as he loves himself. Every wife must respect her husband.