1 CHILDREN, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2 "Honor your father and your mother." This is the first commandment with a promise,

3 "That it may go well with you and you may be long-lived in the land."

4 And you, fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up in the education and admonition of the Lord.

5 Slaves, obey those who according to the flesh are your masters, with reverence and awe in singleness of your hearts as to Christ,

6 not with eye service as pleasers of men, but as Christ's slaves, doing the will of God in a whole-souled way,

7 giving service with cheerfulness as to the Lord and not to men,

8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does that he will be rewarded for by the Lord, whether he be slave or free.

9 And you, masters, do the same by them, avoiding threats, knowing that the Master both of them and of you is in the heavens, and there is no partiality for rank with him.

10 To conclude: Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the complete armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the cunning arts of the Devil.

12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the arch-angels, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly heights.

13 Therefore take the complete armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and, after going through everything, to stand.

14 Stand, then, belted with truth, wearing the breastplate of righteousness,

15 shod with the readiness of the good news of peace.

16 In every event take up the shield of faith by which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the Evil One,

17 and accept the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with all manner of prayer and entreaty; be awake to this with all intentness and with prayer for all the holy

19 and in my behalf, that words may be given to me when I open my month to make known with fearlessness the mystery of the good news,

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may tell it fearlessly as I ought.

21 That you also may know my situation, what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord,

22 whom I am sending to you for this very purpose, will tell you everything, so that you may know the news of me and he may encourage your hearts.

23 Peace to the brethren and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying love!