¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

² "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with a promise:

³ "that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth."¹

1. Deuteronomy 5:16

⁴ You fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

⁵ Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ;

⁶ not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

⁷ with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men;

⁸ knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.

⁹ You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours¹ is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.

1. M TR read "your own master" instead of "their Master and yours"

¹⁰ Finally,¹ be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.

1. M TR add "my brothers"

¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

¹² For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of this darkness,¹ and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

1. M TR add "of this age"

¹³ Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

¹⁵ and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace;

¹⁶ above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.

¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the spoken word of God;

¹⁸ with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:

¹⁹ on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,

²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

²¹ But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things;

²² whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts.

²³ Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.¹

1. M P Vg add "Amen"