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Walk in Love

^1 (a)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And ^(b)walk in love, ^(c)as Christ loved us and ^(d)gave himself up for us, a ^(e)fragrant ^(f)offering and sacrifice to God.

³ But ^(g)sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness ^(h)must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴ Let there be ⁽ⁱ⁾no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, ^(j)which are out of place, but instead ^(k)let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ For you may be sure of this, that ^(l)everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (^(m)that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ^6 (n)Let no one ^(o)deceive you with empty words, for because of these things ^(p)the wrath of God comes upon ^(q)the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore ^(r)do not become partners with them; ⁸ for ^(s)at one time you were ^(t)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. ^(u)Walk as children of light ⁹ (for ^(v)the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰ and ^(w)try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ^11 (x)Take no part in the ^(y)unfruitful ^(z)works of darkness, but instead ^(aa)expose them. ¹² For ^(ab)it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ¹³ But when ^(ac)anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, ¹⁴ for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

^15 (ag)Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ^16 (ah)making the best use of the time, because ^(ai)the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what ^(aj)the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(ak)do not get drunk with wine, for that is ^(al)debauchery, but ^(am)be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in ^(an)psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ^20 (ao)giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father ^(ap)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^21 (aq)submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

^22 (ar)Wives, ^(as)submit to your own husbands, ^(at)as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(au)the husband is the head of the wife even as ^(av)Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is ^(aw)himself its Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit ^(ax)in everything to their husbands.

^25 (ay)Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and ^(az)gave himself up for her, ²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by ^(ba)the washing of water ^(bb)with the word, ²⁷ so ^(bc)that he might present the church to himself in splendor, ^(bd)without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.^{[a] 28} In the same way ^(be)husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, ³⁰ because ^(bf)we are members of his body. ^31 (bg)"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and ^(bh)the two shall become one flesh." ³² This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. ³³ However, ^(bi)let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she ^(bj)respects her husband.