| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. | 1Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. |
| 2“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), | 2"Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely, |
| 3“that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” | 3"that it may go well with you and that you will live a long time on the earth." |
| 4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. | 4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. |
| 5Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, | 5Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ, |
| 6not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, | 6not like those who do their work only when someone is watching--as people-pleasers--but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart. |
| 7rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, | 7Obey with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord and not people, |
| 8knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. | 8because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this will be rewarded by the Lord. |
| 9Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. | 9Masters, treat your slaves the same way, giving up the use of threats, because you know that both you and they have the same master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. |
| 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. | 10Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. |
| 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. | 11Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. |
| 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. | 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. |
| 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. | 13For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. |
| 14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, | 14Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, |
| 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. | 15by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace, |
| 16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; | 16and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. |
| 17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, | 17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. |
| 18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, | 18With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints. |
| 19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, | 19Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak--that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel, |
| 20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. | 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak. |
| 21So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. | 21Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances, how I am doing. |
| 22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. | 22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. |
| 23Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. | 23Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 24Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. | 24Grace be with all of those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. |
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