Ephesians 5

1So follow God's example, as His dear children.

2Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us, as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.

3Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual sin, or any kind of impurity, or greed, because these are not right for God's holy people.

4There must be no dirty talk, foolish talk, or rude joking, which are out of place. Instead, give thanks.

5You can be sure of this: no one who sins sexually, or is impure, or is greedy (which is the same as worshiping idols) has any place in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6Do not let anyone fool you with empty words. It is because of these things that God's anger comes on those who disobey Him.

7So do not have anything to do with them.

8You once were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. So live as children of light.

9The light produces every kind of goodness, right living, and truth.

10Find out what pleases the Lord.

11Have nothing to do with the useless things that people do in the dark. Instead, show how wrong they are.

12It is shameful even to talk about the things such people do in secret.

13But when the light shines on these things, they are seen for what they are,

14because light makes everything clear. That is why it is said: Wake up, sleeper. Rise from death, and Christ will shine on you.

15So be very careful how you live. Do not live like fools, but like wise people.

16Make the most of every chance you have, because these are evil days.

17So do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants.

18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord.

20Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21Put others first, out of respect for Christ.

22Wives, follow the lead of your husbands, as you follow the Lord.

23For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Saviour.

24So just as the church follows Christ, wives should follow their husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

26to make her holy, cleaning her by washing her with water through the word.

27He did this to present the church to Himself as glorious — with no stain or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without fault.

28In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself.

29No one ever hates his own body. Instead, he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church,

30Because we are parts of His body.

31As the Scripture says: For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

32This is a deep secret — but I am talking about Christ and the church.

33So each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.