Lettera agli Efesini 5

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
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.