5:1 | Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children |
5:2 | and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. |
5:3 | But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. |
5:4 | Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. |
5:5 | For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. |
5:6 | Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. |
5:7 | Therefore do not be partners with them. |
5:8 | For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light |
5:9 | (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) |
5:10 | and find out what pleases the Lord. |
5:11 | Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. |
5:12 | For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. |
5:13 | But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, |
5:14 | for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." |
5:15 | Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, |
5:16 | making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. |
5:17 | Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. |
5:18 | Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. |
5:19 | Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, |
5:20 | always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
5:21 | Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. |
5:22 | Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. |
5:23 | For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. |
5:24 | Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. |
5:25 | Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her |
5:26 | to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, |
5:27 | and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. |
5:28 | In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. |
5:29 | After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- |
5:30 | for we are members of his body. |
5:31 | "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." |
5:32 | This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. |
5:33 | However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. |
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