Ephesians, 6

1. Children, be obedient to your parents in the Lord -- that is what uprightness demands.

1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2. The first commandment that has a promise attached to it is: Honour your father and your mother,

2. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise),

3. and the promise is: so that you may have long life and prosper in the land.

3. "that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth."

4. And parents, never drive your children to resentment but bring them up with correction and advice inspired by the Lord.

4. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

5. Slaves, be obedient to those who are, according to human reckoning, your masters, with deep respect and sincere loyalty, as you are obedient to Christ:

5. Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ;

6. not only when you are under their eye, as if you had only to please human beings, but as slaves of Christ who wholeheartedly do the will of God.

6. not in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

7. Work willingly for the sake of the Lord and not for the sake of human beings.

7. rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to men,

8. Never forget that everyone, whether a slave or a free man, will be rewarded by the Lord for whatever work he has done well.

8. knowing that whatever good any one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

9. And those of you who are employers, treat your slaves in the same spirit; do without threats, and never forget that they and you have the same Master in heaven and there is no favouritism with him.

9. Masters, do the same to them, and forbear threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

10. Finally, grow strong in the Lord, with the strength of his power.

10. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

11. Put on the full armour of God so as to be able to resist the devil's tactics.

11. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12. For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the principalities and the ruling forces who are masters of the darkness in this world, the spirits of evil in the heavens.

12. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13. That is why you must take up all God's armour, or you will not be able to put up any resistance on the evil day, or stand your ground even though you exert yourselves to the full.

13. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14. So stand your ground, with truth a belt round your waist, and uprightness a breastplate,

14. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15. wearing for shoes on your feet the eagerness to spread the gospel of peace

15. and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace;

16. and always carrying the shield of faith so that you can use it to quench the burning arrows of the Evil One.

16. besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one.

17. And then you must take salvation as your helmet and the sword of the Spirit, that is, the word of God.

17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18. In all your prayer and entreaty keep praying in the Spirit on every possible occasion. Never get tired of staying awake to pray for all God's holy people,

18. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

19. and pray for me to be given an opportunity to open my mouth and fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel

19. and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

20. of which I am an ambassador in chains; pray that in proclaiming it I may speak as fearlessly as I ought to.

20. for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

21. So that you know, as well, what is happening to me and what I am doing, my dear friend Tychicus, my trustworthy helper in the Lord, will tell you everything.

21. Now that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tych'icus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything.

22. I am sending him to you precisely for this purpose, to give you news about us and encourage you thoroughly.

22. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.

23. May God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ grant peace, love and faith to all the brothers.

23. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24. May grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, in life imperishable.

24. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love undying.