Ephesians:4-6

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* I therefore , the prisoner of the Lord , beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called , * With all lowliness and meekness , with longsuffering , forbearing one another in love ; * Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace . * There is one body , and one Spirit , even as ye are called in one hope of your calling ; * One Lord , one faith , one baptism , * One God and Father of all , who is above all , and through all , and in you all . * But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ . * Wherefore he saith , When he ascended up on high , he led captivity captive , and gave gifts unto men . * (Now that he ascended , what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth ? * He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens , that he might fill all things .) * And he gave some , apostles ; and some , prophets ; and some , evangelists ; and some , pastors and teachers ; * For the perfecting of the saints , for the work of the ministry , for the edifying of the body of Christ : * Till we all come in the unity of the faith , and of the knowledge of the Son of God , unto a perfect man , unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ : * That we henceforth be no more children , tossed to and fro , and carried about with every wind of doctrine , by the sleight of men , and cunning craftiness , whereby they lie in wait to deceive ; * But speaking the truth in love , may grow up into him in all things , which is the head , even Christ : * From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth , according to the effectual working in the measure of every part , maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love . * This I say therefore , and testify in the Lord , that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk , in the vanity of their mind , * Having the understanding darkened , being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them , because of the blindness of their heart : * Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness , to work all uncleanness with greediness . * But ye have not so learned Christ ; * If so be that ye have heard him , and have been taught by him , as the truth is in Jesus : * That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man , which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts ; * And be renewed in the spirit of your mind ; * And that ye put on the new man , which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness . * Wherefore putting away lying , speak every man truth with his neighbour : for we are members one of another . * Be ye angry , and sin not : let not the sun go down upon your wrath : * Neither give place to the devil . * Let him that stole steal no more : but rather let him labour , working with his hands the thing which is good , that he may have to give to him that needeth . * Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth , but that which is good to the use of edifying , that it may minister grace unto the hearers . * And grieve not the holy Spirit of God , whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption . * Let all bitterness , and wrath , and anger , and clamour , and evil speaking , be put away from you , with all malice : * And be ye kind one to another , tenderhearted , forgiving one another , even as God for Christ 's sake hath forgiven you . * Be ye therefore followers of God , as dear children ; * And walk in love , as Christ also hath loved us , and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour . * But fornication , and all uncleanness , or covetousness , let it not be once named among you , as becometh saints ; * Neither filthiness , nor foolish talking , nor jesting , which are not convenient : but rather giving of thanks . * For this ye know , that no whoremonger , nor unclean person , nor covetous man , who is an idolater , hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God . * Let no man deceive you with vain words : for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience . * Be not ye therefore partakers with them . * For ye were sometimes darkness , but now are ye 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 acceptable unto the Lord . * And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness , but rather reprove them . * For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret . * But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light : for whatsoever doth make manifest is light . * Wherefore he saith , Awake thou that sleepest , and arise from the dead , and Christ shall give thee light . * See then that ye walk circumspectly , not as fools , but as wise , * Redeeming the time , because the days are evil . * Wherefore be ye not unwise , but understanding what the will of the Lord is . * And be not drunk with wine , wherein is excess ; but be filled with the Spirit ; * Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs , singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord ; * Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ; * Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God . * Wives , submit yourselves unto your own husbands , as unto the Lord . * For the husband is the head of the wife , even as Christ is the head of the church : and he is the saviour of the body . * Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ , so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing . * Husbands , love your wives , even as Christ also loved the church , and gave himself for it ; * That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word , * 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 ought men to love their wives as their own bodies . He that loveth his wife loveth himself . * For no man ever yet hated his own flesh ; but nourisheth and cherisheth it , even as the Lord the church : * For 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 be joined unto his wife , and they two shall be one flesh . * This is a great mystery : but I speak concerning Christ and the church . * Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself ; and the wife see that she reverence her husband . * Children , obey your parents in the Lord : for this is right . * Honour thy father and mother ; (which is the first commandment with promise ;) * That it may be well with thee , and thou mayest live long on the earth . * And , ye fathers , provoke not your children to wrath : but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord . * Servants , be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh , with fear and trembling , in singleness of your heart , as unto Christ ; * Not with eyeservice , as menpleasers ; but as the servants of Christ , doing the will of God from the heart ; * With good will doing service , as to the Lord , and not to men : * Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth , the same shall he receive of the Lord , whether he be bond or free . * And , ye masters , do the same things unto them , forbearing threatening : knowing that your Master also is in heaven ; neither is there respect of persons with him . * Finally , my brethren , be strong in the Lord , and in the power of his might . * Put on the whole armour of God , that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil . * For we wrestle not against flesh and blood , but against principalities , against powers , against the rulers of the darkness of this world , against spiritual wickedness in high places . * Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God , that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day , and having done all , to stand . * Stand therefore , having your loins girt about with truth , and having on the breastplate of righteousness ; * And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace ; * Above all , taking the shield of faith , wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked . * And take the helmet of salvation , and the sword of the Spirit , which is the word of God : * Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit , and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints ; * And for me , that utterance may be given unto me , that I may open my mouth boldly , to make known the mystery of the gospel , * For which I am an ambassador in bonds : that therein I may speak boldly , as I ought to speak . * But that ye also may know my affairs , and how I do , Tychicus , a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord , shall make known to you all things : * Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose , that ye might know our affairs , and that he might comfort your hearts . * Peace be to the brethren , and love with faith , from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ . * Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity . Amen .

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