1 T herefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

2 a nd walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

3 B ut immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;

4 a nd there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

5 F or this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6 L et no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

7 T herefore do not be partakers with them;

8 f or you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

9 ( for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

10 t rying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

11 D o not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;

12 f or it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

13 B ut all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

14 F or this reason it says, “ Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”

15 T herefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,

16 m aking the most of your time, because the days are evil.

17 S o then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

18 A nd do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

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

20 a lways giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

21 a nd be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Marriage Like Christ and the Church

22 W ives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

23 F or the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

24 B ut as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

25 H usbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

26 s o that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

27 t hat He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

28 S o husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;

29 f or no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,

30 b ecause we are members of His body.

31 F or this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

32 T his mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

33 N evertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.