1 | Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children; |
2 | And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness. |
3 | But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints: |
4 | Or obscenity, or foolish talking, or scurrility, which is to no purpose; but rather giving of thanks. |
5 | For know you this and understand, that no fornicator, or unclean, or covetous person (which is a serving of idols), hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. |
6 | Let no man deceive you with vain words. For because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the children of unbelief. |
7 | Be ye not therefore partakers with them. |
8 | For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light. |
9 | For the fruit of the light is in all goodness, and justice, and truth; |
10 | Proving what is well pleasing to God: |
11 | And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. |
12 | For the things that are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of. |
13 | But all things that are reproved, are made manifest by the light; for all that is made manifest is light. |
14 | Wherefore he saith: Rise thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead: and Christ shall enlighten thee. |
15 | See therefore, brethren, how you walk circumspectly: not as unwise, |
16 | But as wise: redeeming the time, because the days are evil. |
17 | Wherefore become not unwise, but understanding what is the will of God. |
18 | And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury; but be ye filled with the holy Spirit, |
19 | Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord; |
20 | Giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God and the Father: |
21 | Being subject one to another, in the fear of Christ. |
22 | Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord: |
23 | Because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. He is the saviour of his body. |
24 | Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things. |
25 | Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church, and delivered himself up for it: |
26 | That he might sanctify it, cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life: |
27 | That 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. |
28 | So also ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife, loveth himself. |
29 | For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also Christ doth the church: |
30 | Because we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. |
31 | For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh. |
32 | This is a great sacrament; but I speak in Christ and in the church. |
33 | Nevertheless let every one of you in particular love his wife as himself: and let the wife fear her husband. |