The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 5 -

Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children;

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness.

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints:

Or obscenity, or foolish talking, or scurrility, which is to no purpose; but rather giving of thanks.

For know you this and understand, that no fornicator, or unclean, or covetous person (which is a serving of idols), hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no man deceive you with vain words. For because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the children of unbelief.

Be ye not therefore partakers with them.

Children of Light

For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light.

For the fruit of the light is in all goodness, and justice, and truth;

Proving what is well pleasing to God:

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

For the things that are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of.

But all things that are reproved, are made manifest by the light; for all that is made manifest is light.

Wherefore he saith: Rise thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead: and Christ shall enlighten thee.

See therefore, brethren, how you walk circumspectly: not as unwise,

But as wise: redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Wherefore become not unwise, but understanding what is the will of God.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury; but be ye filled with the holy Spirit,

Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord;

Giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God and the Father:

Wives and Husbands

(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; 1 Peter 3:1–7)

Being subject one to another, in the fear of Christ.

Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord:

Because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. He is the saviour of his body.

Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church, and delivered himself up for it:

That he might sanctify it, cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life:

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any; such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish.

So also ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife, loveth himself.

For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also Christ doth the church:

Because we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh.

This is a great sacrament; but I speak in Christ and in the church.

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular love his wife as himself: and let the wife fear her husband.

Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.

Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;

nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks.

Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

Therefore don’t be partakers with them.

Children of Light

For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,

proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.

Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.

For it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light.

Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise,

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Therefore, don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

Wives and Husbands

(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; 1 Peter 3:1–7)

subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.

But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her,

that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect.

Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.

For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly,

because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.

“For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.”(a)

This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly.

Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Footnotes

(a)5:31 ℘ Genesis 2:24