Ephesians 5

1 Therefore become imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and walk in love, just as the Christ also loved us and handed himself over for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a pleasing smell. [a]

3 But sexual immorality and all uncleanness or greed — let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for holy ones, [b] 4 and shamefulness and foolish talk or coarse joking, which are not fitting, but rather thanksgiving. [c] 5 For this you know, knowing that every sexually immoral or unclean or greedy person — that is, an idol-server — has no inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and God. [d]

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience. 7 So do not become sharers with them; 8 for you were once darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light — 9 for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth — [e] 10 testing what is well pleasing to the Lord; 11 and do not share in the unfruitful works of the darkness, but rather also expose them. [f] 12 For the things done by them in hiding are shameful even to speak of; 13 but all things exposed by the light are made plain, 14 for everything that is made plain is light. Therefore it says: [g]

15 Watch carefully, then, how you walk — not as unwise but as wise — 16 buying up the time, because the days are evil. [h] 17 For this reason do not become foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, in which is recklessness, but be filled in spirit, [i] 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, [j] † 20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to the God and Father, 21 being subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

22 Wives, to your own husbands as to the Lord, [k] 23 because a husband is head of the wife as the Christ also is head of the gathering — he himself the one who rescues the body. [l] 24 But as the gathering is subject to the Christ, so also the wives to the husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love the wives, just as the Christ also loved the gathering and handed himself over for her, 26 so that he might make her holy, having cleansed her by the washing of the water in a word, [m] 27 so that he himself might present the gathering to himself in glory, not having spot or wrinkle or any of such things, but so that she might be holy and unblemished.

28 So husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. The one who loves his own wife loves himself, 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Christ also does the gathering, 30 because we are limbs of his body. [n] † 31 “For this reason a man will leave father and mother and will hold fast to his wife, and the two become one flesh.” [o] 32 This secret is great; but I am speaking about Christ and about the gathering. [p] 33 Nevertheless, you also — each one of you is to love his own wife as himself, and the wife is to fear the husband. [q]