Ephesians 5

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 As God's dear children, then, take him as your pattern,	1 So be imitators of God, as beloved children,
2 and fol ow Christ by loving as he loved you, giving himself up for us as an offering and a sweet-smel ingsacrifice to God.	2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
3 Among you there must be not even a mention of sexual vice or impurity in any of its forms, or greed:this would scarcely become the holy people of God!	3 Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones,
4 There must be no foul or salacious talk or coarse jokes -- al this is wrong for you; there should ratherbe thanksgiving.	4 no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving.
5 For you can be quite certain that nobody who indulges in sexual immorality or impurity or greed -- whichis worshipping a false god -- can inherit the kingdom of God.	5 Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Do not let anyone deceive you with empty arguments: it is such behaviour that draws down God'sretribution on those who rebel against him.	6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.
7 Make sure that you do not throw in your lot with them.	7 So do not be associated with them.
8 You were darkness once, but now you are light in the Lord; behave as children of light,	8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,
9 for the effects of the light are seen in complete goodness and uprightness and truth.	9 for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.
10 Try to discover what the Lord wants of you,	10 Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 take no part in the futile works of darkness but, on the contrary, show them up for what they are.	11 Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them,
12 The things which are done in secret are shameful even to speak of;	12 for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret;
13 but anything shown up by the light wil be il uminated	13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
14 and anything illuminated is itself a light. That is why it is said: Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead,and Christ wil shine on you.	14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."
15 So be very careful about the sort of lives you lead, like intel igent and not like senseless people.	15 Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise,
16 Make the best of the present time, for it is a wicked age.	16 making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.
17 This is why you must not be thoughtless but must recognise what is the will of the Lord.	17 Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.
18 Do not get drunk with wine; this is simply dissipation; be fil ed with the Spirit.	18 And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 Sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs among yourselves, singing and chanting to the Lord inyour hearts,	19 addressing one another (in) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,
20 always and everywhere giving thanks to God who is our Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.	20 giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
21 Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.	21 Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives should be subject to their husbands as to the Lord,	22 Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
23 since, as Christ is head of the Church and saves the whole body, so is a husband the head of his wife;	23 For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body.
24 and as the Church is subject to Christ, so should wives be to their husbands, in everything.	24 As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands should love their wives, just as Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her	25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her
26 to make her holy by washing her in cleansing water with a form of words,	26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
27 so that when he took the Church to himself she would be glorious, with no speck or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and faultless.	27 that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
28 In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies; for a man to love hiswife is for him to love himself.	28 So (also) husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
29 A man never hates his own body, but he feeds it and looks after it; and that is the way Christ treats theChurch,	29 For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church,
30 because we are parts of his Body.	30 because we are members of his body.
31 This is why a man leaves his father and mother and becomes attached to his wife, and the twobecome one flesh.	31 "For this reason a man shall leave (his) father and (his) mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
32 This mystery has great significance, but I am applying it to Christ and the Church.	32 This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.
33 To sum up: you also, each one of you, must love his wife as he loves himself; and let every wiferespect her husband.	33 In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.