| New International 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"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- | 2"Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely, |
| 3"so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." | 3"that it may go well with you and that you will live a long time on the earth." |
| 4Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training 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. |
| 5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. | 5Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ, |
| 6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your 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. |
| 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, | 7Obey with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord and not people, |
| 8because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. | 8because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this will be rewarded by the Lord. |
| 9And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism 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 his mighty power. | 10Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. |
| 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. | 11Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. |
| 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. | 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 put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. | 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 firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, | 14Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, |
| 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. | 15by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace, |
| 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows 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. |
| 17Take 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. |
| 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. | 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. |
| 19Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known 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. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. | 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak. |
| 21Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. | 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 am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. | 22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. |
| 23Peace to the brothers and sisters, 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 to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. | 24Grace be with all of those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. |
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