1Children, obey your parents as believers in the Lord. Obey them because it’s the right thing to do.2Scripture says, ‘Honour your father and mother.’ That is the first commandment that has a promise.3‘Then things will go well with you. You will live a long time on the earth.’ (De 5:16)4Fathers, don’t make your children angry. Instead, instruct them and teach them the ways of the Lord as you bring them up.5Slaves, obey your masters here on earth. Respect them and honour them with a heart that is true. Obey them just as you would obey Christ.6Don’t obey them only to please them when they are watching. Do it because you are slaves of Christ. Be sure your heart does what God wants.7Serve your masters with all your heart. Work as serving the Lord and not as serving people.8You know that the Lord will give each person a reward. He will give it to them in keeping with the good they do. It doesn’t matter whether they are a slave or not.9Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. When you warn them, don’t be too hard on them. You know that the God who is their Master and yours is in heaven. And he treats everyone the same.
God’s armour for believers
10Finally, let the Lord make you strong. Depend on his mighty power.11Put on all of God’s armour. Then you can remain strong against the devil’s evil plans.12Our fight is not against human beings. It is against the rulers, the authorities and the powers of this dark world. It is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly world.13So put on all of God’s armour. Evil days will come. But you will be able to stand up to anything. And after you have done everything you can, you will still be standing.14So remain strong in the faith. Put the belt of truth around your waist. Put the armour of godliness on your chest.15Wear on your feet what will prepare you to tell the good news of peace.16Also, pick up the shield of faith. With it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17Put on the helmet of salvation. And take the sword of the Holy Spirit. The sword is God’s word.18At all times, pray by the power of the Spirit. Pray all kinds of prayers. Be watchful, so that you can pray. Always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.19Pray also for me. Pray that whenever I speak, the right words will be given to me. Then I can be bold as I tell the mystery of the good news.20Because of the good news, I am being held by chains as the Lord’s messenger. So pray that I will be bold as I preach the good news. That’s what I should do.
Final greetings
21Tychicus is a dear brother. He is faithful in serving the Lord. He will tell you everything about me. Then you will know how I am and what I am doing.22That’s why I am sending him to you. I want you to know how we are. And I want him to encourage you.23May God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give peace to the brothers and sisters. May they also give the believers love and faith.24May grace be given to everyone who loves our Lord Jesus Christ with a love that will never die.
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)