Ephesians 5:10

Amplified Bible

trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation].

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Try to learn what pleases the Lord.

Revised Standard Version
and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Accept that which is pleasinge to the Lorde:

Hebrew Names Version
proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord.

New American Standard Bible
as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

New Century Version
Try to learn what pleases the Lord.

Update Bible Version
proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord;

Webster's Bible Translation
Proving what is acceptable to the Lord.

English Standard Version
and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

World English Bible
proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Searching what is acceptable to the Lord.

Weymouth's New Testament
and learn in your own experiences what is fully pleasing to the Lord.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And preue ye what `thing is wel plesynge to God.

English Revised Version
proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord;

Berean Standard Bible
Test and prove what pleases the Lord.

Contemporary English Version
as you try to please the Lord.

American Standard Version
proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord;

Bible in Basic English
Testing by experience what is well-pleasing to the Lord;

Complete Jewish Bible
try to determine what will please the Lord.

Darby Translation
proving what is agreeable to the Lord;

International Standard Version
Determine what pleases the Lord,Romans 12:2; Philippians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 Timothy 2:3;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And be discerning of that which is good before our Lord.

Murdock Translation
And search out what is pleasing before our Lord:

King James Version (1611)
Proouing what is acceptable vnto the Lord:

New Living Translation
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

New Life Bible
Learn how to please the Lord.

New Revised Standard
Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Approuing that which is pleasing to the Lorde.

George Lamsa Translation
And so you must discern that which is acceptable before our LORD.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Putting to the test what is well-pleasing unto the Lord;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Proving what is well pleasing to God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Approuyng what is acceptable vnto the Lorde.

Good News Translation
Try to learn what pleases the Lord.

Christian Standard Bible®
testing what is pleasing to the Lord.

King James Version
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Lexham English Bible
trying to learn what is well-pleasing to the Lord.

Literal Translation
proving what is pleasing to the Lord.

Young's Literal Translation
proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and prone what is pleasinge vnto the LORDE,

Mace New Testament (1729)
consider what is acceptable to the Lord;

New English Translation
trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

New King James Version
finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Every day, ask yourself this question, does this make God happy?

New American Standard Bible (1995)
trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Legacy Standard Bible
trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Contextual Overview

³But sexual immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith]. ⁴Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse [obscene or vulgar] joking, because such things are not appropriate [for believers]; but instead speak of your thankfulness [to God]. ⁵For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God]. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty arguments [that encourage you to sin], for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience [those who habitually sin]. ⁷So do not participate or even associate with them [in the rebelliousness of sin]. ⁸For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light] ⁹(for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), ¹⁰trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation].¹¹Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character]; ¹²for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that such people practice in secret.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Proving: 1 Samuel 17:39, Romans 12:1, Romans 12:2, Philippians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:21

acceptable: Psalms 19:14, Proverbs 21:3, Isaiah 58:5, Jeremiah 6:20, Romans 14:18, Philippians 4:18, 1 Timothy 2:3, 1 Timothy 5:4, Hebrews 12:28, 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:20

Reciprocal: Colossians 1:9 - of his

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. There are many things that are acceptable to God, as the person of Christ, his righteousness, sacrifice, sufferings, death, and mediation; the persons of his people, their services, sufferings, sacrifices of prayer, and praise to him, and of bounty and liberality to the poor; their graces, and the exercise of them; and the actions of their lives and conversations, when they are becoming the Gospel, are according to the will of God, and are done in faith, and are directed to his glory: and these things which are acceptable to God, as all the truths of the Gospel, and duties of religion are, should be proved, or tried by men; and in order to the trial of spiritual things, it is necessary that the mind be renewed, the understanding be enlightened, the spiritual senses be in exercise, and all be under the influence and directions of the Spirit of God: and the trial is to be made, not according to human reason, which is corrupt and fallible; and besides, there are some things in revelation above it; but according to the Scriptures, which are the word of God, and the rule of faith and practice; and whither the prophets, Christ, and his apostles, always sent men for the trial of divine things; and things being here tried, and found to be right, should be approved of, valued, and esteemed, cleaved to and held fast.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord - That is,” Walk as children of light Ephesians 5:8, thus showing what is acceptable to the Lord.” Rosenmuller supposes that the participle is used here instead of the imperative. The meaning is, that by so living you will make a fair trial of what is acceptable to the Lord. The result on your happiness in this life and the next, will be such as to show that such a course is pleasing in his sight. Dr. Chandler, however, renders it as meaning that by this course they would show that they discerned and approved of what was acceptable to the Lord. See the notes on Romans 12:2, where a similar form of expression occurs.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 10. Proving what is acceptable — By walking in the light-under the influence of the Divine Spirit, according to the dictates of the Gospel, ye shall be able to try, and bring to full proof, that by which God is best pleased. Ye shall be able to please him well in all things.