Ephesians

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

²”Honor your father and mother,”

which is the first commandment with a promise:

³”that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”¹⁹⁵⁸

⁴Fathers, do not drive your children to anger, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Servants and masters

⁵Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, with deep loyalty,¹⁹⁵⁹ as to Christ. ⁶Do not serve only when eyes are on you in order to please human masters, but as bondservants of Christ. Accomplish God’s will from the heart; ⁷serve with a good attitude, as if you were serving the Lord and not men. ⁸Know that for whatever good we do, we shall receive the same in return from the Lord, no matter if we are slave or free.

⁹You masters, do likewise to them: do not resort to threats but recognize¹⁹⁶⁰ that you both have the same Master in heaven, and there is no discrimination with him.

The armor of God

¹⁰Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, with the strength of his power. ¹¹Put on the complete armor of God, so that you may be able to resist the devil’s tactics. ¹²Truly, our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers¹⁹⁶¹ of this darkness and against the evil spiritual forces of the supernatural realms.^{1962 13}Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to resist when the evil day comes. Having accomplished all things, may you stand your ground! ¹⁴Yes, stand [firm], having the belt of truth around your waist, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵having fitted shoes on your feet so as to be ready in the Good News of peace. ¹⁶Above all, take up the shield of faith which will enable you to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. ¹⁷Take also the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word [spoken] by God.¹⁹⁶³

Unceasing prayer

¹⁸Pray at all times in [the] spirit¹⁹⁶⁴ with intercessions and requests; never get tired of this and persevere in your requests for all the saints. ¹⁹Pray also for me, so that I may be given an opportunity to proclaim with boldness the mystery of the Good News. ²⁰For this cause, I am an ambassador in chains; so pray that I may proclaim it boldly, as I should.

²¹I also want you to know my affairs, how I am doing. Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything. ²²I have sent him to you for this very purpose, to let you know about our condition and to comfort your hearts.

²³Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴May grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ, even with unfading¹⁹⁶⁵ love. Amen.

1958. Deuteronomy 5:16
1959. Or “in singleness of your heart”
1960. Or “know”
1961. Greek kosmokra,toraj
1962. Greek evpourani,oij
1963. Greek r`h/ma, which means spoken word
1964. Or “Spirit”
1965. Or “incorruptible”