Ephesians 4

1So I, a prisoner because I serve the Lord, beg you to live in a way that matches the calling God gave you.

2Be completely humble and gentle. Be patient, putting up with one another in love.

3Work hard to keep the unity that the Spirit gives, by living together in peace.

4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope.

5There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

6One God and Father of all, who is over all, works through all, and is in all.

7But to each one of us Christ has given grace, in the amount He decided to give.

8That is why the Scripture says: When He went up to heaven, He led the prisoners away, and He gave gifts to people.

9(Now what does "He went up" mean, except that He also came down to the lower parts, the earth?

10The one who came down is the same one who went up far above all the heavens, so that He might fill everything.)

11And Christ gave gifts: some to be apostles, some prophets, some who tell the good news, and some pastors and teachers.

12He gave these gifts to prepare God's people for service, so that the body of Christ would be built up,

13Until we all reach unity in the faith and in knowing the Son of God, and become mature — growing up to the full measure of Christ.

14Then we will no longer be babies, thrown around and blown here and there by every new teaching, fooled by clever and tricky people who lie in wait to lead others the wrong way.

15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow up in every way into Christ, who is the head.

16From Christ the whole body is joined and held together, each part doing its work. As each part does its share, the body grows and builds itself up in love.

17So I tell you this, and I say it strongly in the Lord: do not keep living like people who do not know God, whose thinking leads nowhere.

18Their minds are in the dark. They are cut off from the life God gives, because they refuse to understand and their hearts are hard.

19They have lost all shame and have given themselves over to doing anything dirty, always wanting more.

20But that is not the way you learned Christ.

21Surely you heard about Him and were taught the truth that is in Jesus.

22You were taught to take off your old self, the way you used to live, which is being ruined by its deceiving desires.

23You were taught to let your minds be made new,

24And to put on the new self, created to be like God, truly right and holy.

25So stop lying. Each of you must speak the truth to your neighbor, because we all belong to one body.

26When you are angry, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

27And do not give the devil a chance.

28Anyone who has been stealing must steal no more. Instead, that person must work, doing something useful with their own hands, so that they have something to share with people in need.

29Do not let any rotten talk come out of your mouth. Say only what is helpful for building others up, so that it does good to those who hear.

30And do not make the Holy Spirit of God sad. The Spirit is the mark that you belong to God, kept safe for the day He sets you free.

31Get rid of all bitterness, bad temper, anger, shouting, and insults, along with every kind of hate.

32Be kind and tender to one another, forgiving each other, just as God forgave you because of Christ.