4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
4:1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

4:2 with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love,
4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

4:3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4:3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call,
4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling,

4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

4:6 one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.
4:6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

4:7 But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
4:7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift.

4:8 Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."
4:8 Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people."

4:9 (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
4:9 (When it says, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?

4:10 He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
4:10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.)

4:11 And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
4:11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ;
4:13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

4:14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles.
4:14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.

4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
4:15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love.
4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.

4:17 Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds;
4:17 Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds.

4:18 they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart;
4:18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart.

4:19 they have become callous and have given themselves up to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of uncleanness.
4:19 They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

4:20 You did not so learn Christ! --
4:20 That is not the way you learned Christ!

4:21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus.
4:21 For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus.

4:22 Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts,
4:22 You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts,

4:23 and be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

4:24 and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
4:24 and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

4:25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
4:25 So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.

4:26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
4:26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

4:27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
4:27 and do not make room for the devil.

4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need.
4:28 Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.

4:29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.
4:29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.

4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.

4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice,
4:31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice,

4:32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
4:32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.