1 D o as God would do. Much-loved children want to do as their fathers do.

Therefore be imitators of God, as well-beloved children.

2 L ive 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.

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God a sweet fragrance.

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

But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity '> of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God’s consecrated people).

4 D o 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.

Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness.

5 B e 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.

For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous —for he is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 D o 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.

Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments, for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience.

7 H ave nothing to do with them.

So do not associate or be sharers with them.

8 A t 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.

For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.

9 T his light gives us truth. It makes us right with God and makes us good.

For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.

10 L earn how to please the Lord.

And try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

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

Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead expose and reprove and convict them.

12 I t is a shame even to talk about these things done in secret.

For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that practice in secret.

13 A ll things can be seen when they are in the light. Everything that can be seen is in the light.

But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light.

14 T he 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

Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.

15 S o be careful how you live. Live as men who are wise and not foolish.

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),

16 M ake the best use of your time. These are sinful days.

Making the very most of the time, because the days are evil.

17 D o not be foolish. Understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.

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

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the Spirit.

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

Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices '> and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord,

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

At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

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

Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

22 W ives, obey your own husbands. In doing this, you obey the Lord.

Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as to the Lord.

23 F or 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.

For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of body.

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

As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands.

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

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

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

So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word,

27 C hrist 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.

That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things.

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

Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.

29 N o 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.

For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church,

30 W e are all a part of His body, the church.

Because we are members (parts) of His body.

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

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

32 T his is hard to understand, but it shows that the church is the body of Christ.

This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 S o every man must love his wife as he loves himself. Every wife must respect her husband.

However, let each man of you love his wife as his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband '> that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly].