1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 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. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 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. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 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. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 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. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 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. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

1 Wees dan navolgers van God soos geliefde kinders;

2 en wandel in liefde, soos Christus ons ook liefgehad het en Hom vir ons oorgegee het as 'n gawe en offer aan God tot 'n lieflike geur.

3 Maar hoerery en allerhande onreinheid of hebsug moet onder julle selfs nie genoem word nie, soos dit die heiliges betaam;

4 ook nie gemeenheid en dwase of lawwe praatjies wat nie pas nie, maar liewer danksegging.

5 Want dit moet julle weet dat geen hoereerder of onreine of gierigaard, wat 'n afgodedienaar is, 'n erfdeel het in die koninkryk van Christus en van God nie.

6 Laat niemand julle met ydel woorde verlei nie, want daardeur kom die toorn van God oor die kinders van die ongehoorsaamheid.

7 Wees dan nie hulle deelgenote nie.

8 Want vroeër was julle duisternis, maar nou is julle lig in die Here -- wandel soos kinders van die lig.

9 Want die vrug van die Gees bestaan in alle goedheid en geregtigheid en waarheid.

10 En beproef wat die Here welbehaaglik is;

11 en hou nie gemeenskap met die onvrugbare werke van die duisternis nie, maar bestraf dit liewer.

12 Want wat in die geheim deur hulle gedoen word, is skandelik selfs om te noem.

13 Maar al die dinge wat deur die lig bestraf word, word openbaar; want alles wat openbaar word, is lig.

14 Daarom sê Hy: Ontwaak, jy wat slaap, en staan op uit die dode, en Christus sal oor jou skyn.

15 Pas dan op dat julle nougeset wandel, nie as onwyse nie, maar as wyse;

16 en koop die tyd uit, omdat die dae boos is.

17 Daarom moet julle nie onverstandig wees nie, maar verstaan wat die wil van die Here is.

18 Moenie dronk word van wyn nie -- daarin is losbandigheid; maar word met die Gees vervul.

19 Spreek onder mekaar met psalms en lofsange en geestelike liedere; en sing en psalmsing in julle hart tot eer van die Here,

20 terwyl julle God die Vader altyd vir alles dank in die Naam van onse Here Jesus Christus,

21 en aan mekaar onderdanig is in die vrees van God.

22 Vroue, wees aan julle eie mans onderdanig, soos aan die Here.

23 Want die man is die hoof van die vrou, soos Christus ook Hoof is van die gemeente; en Hy is die Verlosser van die liggaam.

24 Maar soos die gemeente aan Christus onderdanig is, so moet die vroue dit ook in alles aan hul eie mans wees.

25 Manne, julle moet jul eie vroue liefhê, soos Christus ook die gemeente liefgehad en Homself daarvoor oorgegee het

26 om dit te heilig, nadat Hy dit gereinig het met die waterbad deur die woord,

27 sodat Hy die gemeente voor Hom kon stel, verheerlik, sonder vlek of rimpel of iets dergeliks; maar dat dit heilig en sonder gebrek sou wees.

28 So behoort die mans hulle eie vroue lief te hê soos hul eie liggame. Wie sy eie vrou liefhet, het homself lief;

29 want niemand het ooit sy eie vlees gehaat nie, maar hy voed en koester dit, net soos die Here die gemeente.

30 Want ons is lede van sy liggaam, van sy vlees en van sy bene.

31 Daarom moet die man sy vader en sy moeder verlaat en sy vrou aankleef en hulle twee sal een vlees word.

32 Hierdie verborgenheid is groot, maar ek sê dit met die oog op Christus en die gemeente.

33 In alle geval moet elkeen van julle ook afsonderlik sy eie vrou liefhê net soos homself, en die vrou moet die man eerbiedig.