1 Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and walk in love, even as the Christ loved us, and delivered himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.

3 But fornication and all uncleanness or unbridled lust, let it not be even named among you, as it becomes saints; 4 and filthiness and foolish talking, or jesting, which are not convenient; but rather thanksgiving. 5 For this ye are well informed of, knowing that no fornicator, or unclean person, or person of unbridled lust, who is an idolater, has inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with vain words, for on account of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore fellow-partakers with them; 8 for ye were once darkness, but now light in the Lord; walk as children of light, 9 (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,) 10 proving what is agreeable to the Lord; 11 and do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather also reprove them, 12 for the things that are done by them in secret it is shameful even to say. 13 But all things having their true character exposed by the light are made manifest; for that which makes everything manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he says, Wake up, thou that sleepest, and arise up from among the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee. 15 See therefore how ye walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 For this reason be not foolish, but understanding what is the will of the Lord. 18 And be not drunk with wine, in which is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and chanting with your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks at all times for all things to him who is God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

21 submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ. 22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord, 23 for a husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ is head of the assembly. Heis Saviour of the body. 24 But even as the assembly is subjected to the Christ, so also wives to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your own wives, even as the Christ also loved the assembly, and has delivered himself up for it, 26 in order that he might sanctify it, purifying it by the washing of water by the word, 27 that he might present the assembly to himself glorious, having no spot, or wrinkle, or any of such things; but that it might be holy and blameless. 28 So ought men also to love their own wives as their own bodies: he that loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no one has ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as also the Christ the assembly: 30 for we are members of his body; we are of his flesh, and of his bones.31 Because of this a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. 32 This mystery is great, but I speak as to Christ, and as to the assembly. 33 But ye also, every one of you, let each so love his own wife as himself; but as to the wife I speak that she may fear the husband.

1 Võtke nüüd Jumal eeskujuks nagu tema armastatud lapsed 2 ja käige armastuses, nii nagu Kristus meid on armastanud ja on iseenese loovutanud meie eest healõhnaliseks ohvrianniks Jumalale.

3 Aga hoorusest ja kogu rüvedusest ja himustamisest ärgu olgu teie keskel enam kuuldagi, nõnda nagu on kohane Jumala rahvale. 4 Samuti hüljake labased ja rumalad sõnad ning kahemõttelised naljad. Nende asemel olgu tänu. 5 Sest selles te võite olla kindlad, et ühelgi kõlvatul, rüvedal ega ahnel, see tähendab ebajumalateenril, ei ole pärandit Kristuse ja Jumala riigis. 6 Ärge laske enda petta tühjade sõnadega, sest selliste asjade pärast tuleb Jumala viha sõnakuulmatute peale! 7 Ärge siis saage nende kaasosalisteks!

8 Varem te olite pimedus, nüüd aga olete valgus Issandas, elage siis nagu valguse lapsed! 9 Valguse vili on aga kõik headus, tõde ja õigus. 10 Tehke kindlaks, mis on Issandale meelepärane! 11 Ärge aidake kaasa pimeduse viljatutele tegudele, vaid pigem paljastage need! 12 Sest mida sõnakuulmatud salajas teevad, seda on nimetadagi häbi. 13 Aga kõik varjatu saab valguse käes avalikuks, 14 sest me näeme kõike tänu valgusele. Seepärast öeldakse:

„Ärka üles, kes sa magad,

ja tõuse üles surnuist,

siis särab sulle Kristus!"

15 Vaadake siis hoolega, kuidas te elate: mitte nagu arutud, vaid targad. 16 Kasutage aega õigesti, sest päevad on kurjad. 17 Seepärast ärge olge rumalad, vaid saage aru, mis on Issanda tahtmine. 18 Ärge joovastuge viinast, kust tuleb õnnetu elu, vaid saage täis Vaimu, 19 rääkides omavahel psalmide, hümnide ja Vaimus antud lauludega. Laulge ja mängige muusikat Issandale kogu oma südamest, 20 tänades alati kõige eest meie Jumalat ja Isa Issanda Jeesuse Kristuse nimel.

21 Alistuge üksteisele aukartusest Kristuse vastu.

22 Naine allugu oma mehele nagu Issandale, 23 sest mees on naise pea, nagu Kristus on koguduse, oma ihu pea ja päästja. 24 Nagu kogudus alistub Kristusele, nõnda alistugu ka naised meestele kõiges.

25 Mehed, armastage oma naisi, nõnda nagu Kristus on armastanud kogudust ja andnud oma elu koguduse eest, 26 et teda pühitseda ja puhastada oma sõna kaudu otsekui veega pestes, 27 et kogudus enese ette tuua säravpuhtana, ilma ühegi pleki, kortsu ega muu veata, vaid püha ja laitmatuna. 28 Nõnda peavad mehedki armastama oma naist nagu iseenese ihu. Kes oma naist armastab, armastab iseennast. 29 Keegi ju ei vihka iial oma ihu, vaid toidab ja soojendab seda nii nagu Kristus kogudust, 30 sest me oleme tema ihuliikmed. 31 „Seepärast jätab mees maha oma isa ja ema ning hoiab oma naise poole, ja need kaks saavad üheks." 32 Siin peitub sügav saladus, aga mina räägin Kristusest ja kogudusest. 33 Kuid ka igaüks teist peab armastama oma naist nii nagu ta armastab iseennast, ja naine peab austama oma meest.