¹ Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children ² and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. ³ But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. ⁴ Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. ⁵ For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

⁶ Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not be partakers with them, ⁸ for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – ⁹ for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – ¹⁰ trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. ¹³ But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. ¹⁴ For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says: “Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!”

¹⁵ Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

²² Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, ²³ because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. ²⁴ But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her ²⁶ to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, ²⁷ so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸ In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, ³⁰ for we are members of his body. ³¹ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. ³² This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.