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—
3“that it may go well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
4And fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of Sovereign.
5Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;
6not only when being watched, to please men, but as slaves of the Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7serving with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,
8knowing that whatever good each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is slave or free.
9And masters, be the same way towards them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
10Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
11Put on the full armor of God so as to be able to stand firm against the stratagems of the devil.
12Because, our wrestling match is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, against the malignant spirits in the heavenly realms.
13That is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, to stand firm, with everything in place.
14So stand firm, having belted your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15and having shod your feet with the readiness of the Gospel of the peace;
16above all, having taken up the shield of the faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the malignant one;
17also, grasp the helmet of the salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's Word spoken;
18praying at all times in the Spirit, using every prayer and petition, yes being watchful to this end with all perseverance and petition for all the saints
19—on my behalf too, that when I open my mouth utterance may be given to me with boldness, to 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 do.
21Now that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything;
22whom I have sent to you for this very purpose: that you may know our circumstances and that he may comfort your hearts.
23Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.
24The grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Amen.
