Ephesians 6
1 Children, obey your parents as followers of the Lord, for this is right.
2 Show honor to your father and mother. This is the first commandment that includes a promise:
3 so that things may go well for you and you may live a long time on the earth.
4 And you fathers, do not provoke your children. Instead, bring them up with the Lord’s discipline and instruction.
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, and with wholehearted sincerity, as you would obey Christ.
6 Do not work only when someone is watching, like people who seek human approval. Rather, serve as Christ’s slaves, doing God’s will from the heart.
7 Serve eagerly, as serving the Lord and not human beings.
8 Remember that each person, slave or free, will receive from the Lord a reward for whatever good they do.
9 And masters, treat them in the same way. Give up threats, knowing that their Lord and yours is in heaven, and that he shows no favoritism.
10 Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from the might of his power.
11 Put on God’s complete armor, so you can stand against the Devil’s schemes.
12 For our struggle is not against human beings, but against rulers and authorities, against the powers that govern this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13 So take up God’s complete armor, so you can hold your ground on the evil day and, after doing everything, remain standing.
14 Stand firm, then: fasten truth around your waist and wear righteousness as your breastplate.
15 Put on your feet the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
16 Along with all this, take up faith as your shield; with it you can put out every burning arrow shot by the Evil One.
17 Receive salvation as your helmet, and the Spirit’s sword, which is God’s spoken word.
18 Pray with every kind of prayer and request, at all times in the Spirit. Stay alert for this purpose, with all persistence, as you make requests for all the saints.
19 Pray for me too, that I may be given the right words when I open my mouth, so I can boldly make the gospel’s mystery known.
20 I am its ambassador in chains. Pray that I may speak boldly about it, as I ought to.
21 So that you too may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything.
22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose: to let you know about us and to encourage your hearts.
23 May the brothers and sisters have peace, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 May grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying love.
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