1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.2‘Honour your father and mother’ – which is the first commandment with a promise –3‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’ (De 5:16)4Fathers,[1] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.6Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,8because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.9And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favouritism with him.
The armour of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.19Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Final greetings
21Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing.22I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.23Peace to the brothers and sisters,[2] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.24Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.[3]
Ephesians 6
English Standard Version
Children and Parents
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (Pr 1:8; Pr 6:20; Pr 23:22)2“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), (Ex 20:12)3“that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ge 18:19; De 4:9; De 6:7; De 11:19; Ps 78:4; Pr 19:18; Pr 22:6; Pr 29:17; 2Ti 3:15)
Bondservants and Masters
5Bondservants,[1] obey your earthly masters[2] with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, (2Co 11:3; Eph 5:22; 1Pe 2:18)6not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (Ga 1:10)7rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,8knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. (Ps 62:12; Ga 3:28; Col 3:11)9Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master[3] and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. (Le 25:43; De 10:17; Job 31:13; Joh 13:13)
The Whole Armor of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. (Ro 4:20; Eph 1:19; Eph 3:16; 2Ti 2:1; 1Jo 2:14)11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Job 29:14; Ro 13:12; 2Co 10:4; Eph 4:14; Eph 6:13; Eph 6:14)12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Lu 22:53; 1Co 9:25; Eph 1:3; Eph 1:21; Eph 2:2; Eph 3:10; Col 1:13)13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Eph 5:16; 1Pe 4:1)14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (Isa 11:5; Isa 59:17; Isa 61:10; Lu 12:35; 2Co 6:7; 1Th 5:8; 1Pe 1:13)15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. (Ex 12:11; Isa 52:7; Ro 10:15)16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; (Ps 120:4; Mt 13:19; 1Jo 5:4)17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (Isa 49:2; Ho 6:5; 2Co 6:7; Eph 6:14; Heb 4:12)18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, (Mr 13:33; Lu 18:1; Ro 8:26; Col 4:2; 1Ti 2:1; Jud 1:20)19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, (Isa 50:4; Ac 4:29; Eph 3:3; Col 4:3; 1Th 5:25; 2Th 3:1)20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ac 28:20; 2Co 5:20)
Final Greetings
21So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. (Ac 20:4; Col 4:7; 2Ti 4:12; Tit 3:12)22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. (Col 2:2)23Peace be to the brothers,[4] and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ga 5:6; Ga 6:16; 1Th 5:8; 2Th 3:16; 1Pe 5:14)24Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. (1Co 16:22)