5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

5:2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

5:7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

5:9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

5:10 and find out what pleases the Lord.

5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

5:12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

5:13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,

5:14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,

5:16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

5:24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

5:26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

5:27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

5:28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

5:29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--

5:30 for we are members of his body.

5:31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."

5:32 This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church.

5:33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.