Ephesians 5:17

New King James Version

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Legacy Standard Bible
On account of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Don't ride with your head in the clouds.

Bible in Basic English
For this reason, then, do not be foolish, but be conscious of the Lord's pleasure.

Darby Translation
For this reason be not foolish, but understanding what [is] the will of the Lord.

Christian Standard Bible®
So don't be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

World English Bible
Therefore don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what is the will of the Lord.

Weymouth's New Testament
On this account do not prove yourselves wanting in sense, but try to understand what the Lord's will is.

King James Version (1611)
Wherefore be ye not vnwise, but vnderstanding what the will of the Lord is.

Literal Translation
For this reason, do not be foolish, but understanding what the will of the Lord is .

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wherfore be not ye vnwyse, but vnderstonde what the wil of the LORDE is,

Mace New Testament (1729)
wherefore be not imprudent, but consider what is agreeable to the divine will.

THE MESSAGE
Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

Amplified Bible
Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is.

American Standard Version
Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Revised Standard Version
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Wherfore be ye not vnwyse but vnderstonde what the will of the Lorde is

Update Bible Version
Therefore don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is].

Young's Literal Translation
because of this become not fools, but -- understanding what [is] the will of the Lord,

New Century Version
So do not be foolish but learn what the Lord wants you to do.

New English Translation
For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord's will is.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Contemporary English Version
Don't be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do.

Complete Jewish Bible
So don't be foolish, but try to understand what the will of the Lord is.

English Standard Version
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Wherefore, be ye not vnwise, but vnderstand what the will of the Lord is.

George Lamsa Translation
Wherefore do not lack wisdom, but understand what the will of God is.

Hebrew Names Version
Therefore don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

International Standard Version
Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.Romans 12:2; Colossians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:18;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
On account of this, be not wanting in mind, but understand what is the will of Aloha.

Murdock Translation
Therefore, be not lacking in understanding; but understand ye what is the pleasure of God.

New Living Translation
Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

New Life Bible
Do not be foolish. Understand what the Lord wants you to do.

English Revised Version
Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

New Revised Standard
So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For this cause, do not become foolish, but have discernment as to what is the will of the Lord;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore, become not unwise: but understanding what is the will of God.

King James Version
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Lexham English Bible
Because of this do not become foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wherfore be ye not vnwise, but vnderstandyng what the wyll of the Lord is.

Easy-to-Read Version
So don't be foolish with your lives, but learn what the Lord wants you to do.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Good News Translation
Don't be fools, then, but try to find out what the Lord wants you to do.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor nyle ye be maad vnwise, but vndurstondynge which is the wille of 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

be: Ephesians 5:15, Colossians 4:5

understanding: Deuteronomy 4:6, 1 Kings 3:9-12, Job 28:28, Psalms 111:10, Psalms 119:27, Proverbs 2:5, Proverbs 14:8, Proverbs 23:23, Jeremiah 4:22, John 7:17, Romans 12:2, Colossians 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, 1 Peter 4:2

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 9:3 - Understand 1 Samuel 18:5 - wisely 1 Chronicles 12:32 - to know Ezra 7:18 - that do Psalms 90:12 - So Psalms 119:45 - for I seek Proverbs 4:26 - Ponder Proverbs 13:16 - prudent Proverbs 14:15 - simple Acts 8:30 - Understandest Romans 16:19 - yet 1 Corinthians 14:15 - I will pray with the spirit Ephesians 6:6 - doing Philippians 1:9 - in knowledge Colossians 3:16 - all 1 Thessalonians 4:3 - this 2 Peter 1:5 - knowledge

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wherefore be ye not unwise,.... No one would be thought to be unwise, but such are, who do not redeem time, and are ignorant of the will of the Lord; believers should not act the unwise part, neither in their talk, nor in their walk and conversation, nor in their use of time:

but understanding what the will of the Lord [is]; or "of God", as read the Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions: there is the secret will of God, which is the rule of all his proceedings; and is unknown to men, till facts make it appear; this is always fulfilled, and sometimes by persons who have no regard to his revealed will; to this the wills of the people of God should be always resigned: and there is his revealed will, which lies partly in the Gospel; which declares it to be his will, that Christ should work out the salvation of his people, which is what he came to do; that whoever believes in him shall be saved; that all that are redeemed shall be sanctified; and that they shall persevere to the end, and be glorified; and partly in the law, in the precepts and commands of it, which contain the good, perfect, and acceptable will of God: and the understanding of it is not a mere speculative knowledge of it, but a practical one; when a man not only knows, but does the will of God, and his heart and actions agree with it; and this is to be done in faith, in virtue of grace and strength received, with a view to the glory of God, having no dependence on what is done; and to the right understanding of it, so as to act according to it, as should be, the word of God, and the illuminations, instructions, and grace of the Spirit, are necessary: the Alexandrian copy, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, read the words as an exhortation, "understand ye the will of God".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Be ye not unwise - Be not fools in the employment of your time, and in your manner of life. Show true wisdom by endeavoring to understand what the will of the Lord is, and then doing it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 17. Wherefore be ye not unwise — Μη γινεσθε αφρονες· Do not become madmen. Here is a most evident allusion to the orgies of Bacchus, in which his votaries acted like madmen; running about, tossing their heads from shoulder to shoulder, appearing to be in every sense completely frantic. See the whole of the passage in Livy, to which I have referred on Ephesians 5:12.

But understanding what the will of the Lord is.] It is the will of God that ye should be sober, chaste, holy, and pure. Get a thorough understanding of this; acquaint yourselves with God's will, that ye may know how to glorify him.