1 Estote ergo imitatores Dei, sicut filii carissimi, | 1 As God's dear children, then, take him as your pattern, |
2 et ambulate indilectione, sicut et Christus dilexit nos et tradidit seipsum pro nobisoblationem et hostiam Deo in odorem suavitatis.
| 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. |
3 Fornicatio autem et omnis immunditia aut avaritia nec nominetur in vobis,sicut decet sanctos, | 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! |
4 et turpitudo et stultiloquium aut scurrilitas, quae nondecent, sed magis gratiarum actio. | 4 There must be no foul or salacious talk or coarse jokes -- al this is wrong for you; there should ratherbe thanksgiving. |
5 Hoc enim scitote intellegentes quod omnisfornicator aut immundus aut avarus, id est idolorum cultor, non habethereditatem in regno Christi et Dei.
| 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. |
6 Nemo vos decipiat inanibus verbis; propter haec enim venit ira Dei in filiosdiffidentiae. | 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. |
7 Nolite ergo effici comparticipes eorum; | 7 Make sure that you do not throw in your lot with them. |
8 eratis enim aliquandotenebrae, nunc autem lux in Domino. Ut filii lucis ambulate | 8 You were darkness once, but now you are light in the Lord; behave as children of light, |
9 — fructus enimlucis est in omni bonitate et iustitia et veritate — | 9 for the effects of the light are seen in complete goodness and uprightness and truth. |
10 probantes quid sitbeneplacitum Domino; | 10 Try to discover what the Lord wants of you, |
11 et nolite communicare operibus infructuosis tenebrarum,magis autem et redarguite; | 11 take no part in the futile works of darkness but, on the contrary, show them up for what they are. |
12 quae enim in occulto fiunt ab ipsis, turpe est etdicere; | 12 The things which are done in secret are shameful even to speak of; |
13 omnia autem, quae arguuntur, a lumine manifestantur, | 13 but anything shown up by the light wil be il uminated |
14 omne enim,quod manifestatur, lumen est. Propter quod dicit: “ Surge, qui dormis, etexsurge a mortuis, et illuminabit te Christus ”.
| 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. |
15 Videte itaque caute quomodo ambuletis, non quasi insipientes sed utsapientes, | 15 So be very careful about the sort of lives you lead, like intel igent and not like senseless people. |
16 redimentes tempus, quoniam dies mali sunt. | 16 Make the best of the present time, for it is a wicked age. |
17 Propterea nolitefieri imprudentes, sed intellegite, quae sit voluntas Domini. | 17 This is why you must not be thoughtless but must recognise what is the will of the Lord. |
18 Et noliteinebriari vino, in quo est luxuria, sed implemini Spiritu | 18 Do not get drunk with wine; this is simply dissipation; be fil ed with the Spirit. |
19 loquentesvobismetipsis in psalmis et hymnis et canticis spiritalibus, cantantes etpsallentes in cordibus vestris Domino. | 19 Sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs among yourselves, singing and chanting to the Lord inyour hearts, |
20 Gratias agentes semper pro omnibus innomine Domini nostri Iesu Christi Deo et Patri, | 20 always and everywhere giving thanks to God who is our Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
21 subiecti invicem in timoreChristi.
| 21 Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. |
22 Mulieres viris suis sicut Domino, | 22 Wives should be subject to their husbands as to the Lord, |
23 quoniam vir caput est mulieris, sicut etChristus caput est ecclesiae, ipse salvator corporis. | 23 since, as Christ is head of the Church and saves the whole body, so is a husband the head of his wife; |
24 Sed ut ecclesiasubiecta est Christo, ita et mulieres viris in omnibus.
| 24 and as the Church is subject to Christ, so should wives be to their husbands, in everything. |
25 Viri, diligite uxores, sicut et Christus dilexit ecclesiam et seipsumtradidit pro ea, | 25 Husbands should love their wives, just as Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her |
26 ut illam sanctificaret mundans lavacro aquae in verbo, | 26 to make her holy by washing her in cleansing water with a form of words, |
27 utexhiberet ipse sibi gloriosam ecclesiam non habentem maculam aut rugam autaliquid eiusmodi, sed ut sit sancta et immaculata. | 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. |
28 Ita et viri debentdiligere uxores suas ut corpora sua. Qui suam uxorem diligit, seipsum diligit; | 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. |
29 nemo enim umquam carnem suam odio habuit, sed nutrit et fovet eam sicut etChristus ecclesiam, | 29 A man never hates his own body, but he feeds it and looks after it; and that is the way Christ treats theChurch, |
30 quia membra sumus corporis eius. | 30 because we are parts of his Body. |
31 Propter hoc relinquethomo patrem et matrem et adhaerebit uxori suae, et erunt duo in carne una. | 31 This is why a man leaves his father and mother and becomes attached to his wife, and the twobecome one flesh. |
32 Mysterium hoc magnum est; ego autem dico de Christo et ecclesia! | 32 This mystery has great significance, but I am applying it to Christ and the Church. |
33 Verumtamenet vos singuli unusquisque suam uxorem sicut seipsum diligat; uxor autem timeatvirum.
| 33 To sum up: you also, each one of you, must love his wife as he loves himself; and let every wiferespect her husband. |