the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
Read the Bible
International Standard Version
Ephesians 5
1 So be imitators of God, as his dear children.[xr] 2 Live in love as Christ also loved us[fn] and gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to God.[xr]
3 Do not let sexual sin, impurity of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints.[xr] 4 Obscene, flippant, or vulgar talk is totally inappropriate. Instead, let there be thanksgiving.[xr] 5 For you know very well that no immoral or impure person, or anyone who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[xr] 6 Do not let anyone deceive you with meaningless words, for it is because of these things that God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.[fn][xr] 7 So do not be partners with them. 8 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.[xr] 9 For the fruit of the light[fn] consists of every form of goodness, righteousness, and truth.[xr] 10 Determine what pleases the Lord,[xr] 11 and have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness. Instead, expose them for what they are.[xr] 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by people[fn] in secret.[xr] 13 But everything that is exposed to the light becomes visible,[xr] 14 for everything that is visible is light. That is why it says,[xr] "Wake up, O sleeper! Arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.''[fn] 15 So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise,[xr] 16 making the best use of time[fn] because the days are evil.[xr] 17 Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.[xr] 18 Stop getting[fn] drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit.[xr] 19 Then you will recite to one another psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. You will sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts.[xr] 20 You will always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.[xr]
21 And you will submit yourselves to one another out of reverence for[fn] Christ.[xr] 22 Wives, submit yourselves[fn] to your husbands as to the Lord.[xr] 23 For the husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. It is he who is the Savior of the body.[xr] 24 Indeed, just as the church is submissive to Christ, so wives must be submissive[fn] to their husbands in everything.[xr] 25 Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it,[xr] 26 so that he might make it holy by cleansing it, washing it with water and the word,[xr] 27 and might present the church to himself in all its glory, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, but holy and without fault.[xr] 28 In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love[fn] their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one has ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, as Christ does[fn] the church. 30 For we are parts of his body - of his flesh and of his bones.[fn][xr] 31 "That is why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[fn][xr] 32 This is a great secret, but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 But each individual man among you must love his wife as he loves[fn] himself; and may the wife fear her husband.[xr]
International Standard Version
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version. Release 2.0, Build 2015.02.09. Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.