RKJNT - Ephesians - 4

4:1  Therefore I, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

4:2  With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love;

4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope in your calling;

4:5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

4:6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all.

4:7  But to every one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

4:8  Therefore it says, When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and gave gifts to men.

4:9  (In saying that he ascended, what does that mean but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?

4:10  He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

4:11  And he gave some as apostles; and some as prophets; and some as evangelists; and some as pastors and teachers;

4:12  For the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ:

4:13  Until we all attain the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

4:14  That we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.

4:15  But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all things into him, who is the head, that is, Christ:

4:16  From whom the whole body, fitted and joined together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of every part, causes the body to grow, for the building up of itself in love.

4:17  This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as other Gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds,

4:18  Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts:

4:19  Who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness, greedy to practice all kinds of uncleanness.

4:20  But you did not learn Christ that way;

4:21  If indeed you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus,

4:22  Then put off the old man, which belongs to your former life, which is corrupt through deceitful lusts;

4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your minds;

4:24  And put on the new man, who, in the likeness of God, is created in true righteousness and holiness.

4:25  Therefore, putting away lying, let every man speak the truth with his neighbour: for we are members of one another.

4:26  Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down upon your wrath:

4:27  Give no opportunity to the devil.

4:28  Let him who stole, steal no more: but rather let him labour, doing with his hands that which is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

4:29  Let no corrupt words proceed out of your mouth, but only that which is good for edifying, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

4:30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you have been sealed for the day of redemption.

4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and quarreling, and slander, be put away from you, along with all types of malice:

4:32  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ has forgiven you.