Ephesians 5:10

New King James Version

finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

Parallel Translations

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.

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

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

Darby Translation
proving what is agreeable to the Lord;

Christian Standard Bible®
discerning 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.

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

Literal Translation
proving what is 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;

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].

American Standard Version
proving what is well-pleasing unto 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:

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

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

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

New Century Version
Try to learn what pleases the Lord.

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

Berean Standard Bible
Test and prove what pleases the Lord.

Contemporary English Version
as you try to please the Lord.

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

English Standard Version
and try to discern 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.

Hebrew Names Version
proving what is well-pleasing 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:

New Living Translation
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

New Life Bible
Learn how to please the Lord.

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

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

King James Version
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

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

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

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

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

Good News Translation
Try to learn what pleases the Lord.

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

Contextual Overview

³ But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; ⁴ neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know, [fn] that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not be partakers with them. ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the Spirit [fn] is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰ finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. ¹¹ And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them 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.