Ephesians 5:8-17

8Once your minds were completely in the dark. But now you belong to the Lord. As a result, you have become full of light. So now you must live as people who belong to the light.

9The light helps you to live in a way that is good, right and true.

10You should learn more and more to do the things that please the Lord.

11People whose minds are in the dark do things that have no good purpose. Keep away from wrong things like that. Instead, show how bad those things really are.

12People like that should be ashamed of the things that they do secretly. Those things are too bad for us even to talk about.

13But when God's light shines on something, people can see clearly its true nature.

14Everything that becomes clear to see is in the light. That is why it says: ‘Wake up, you people who are asleep! Rise up from among the dead people! Then Christ will shine his light on you.’

15So you must be very careful how you live. Live like people who are wise. Do not live like fools.

16Many bad things are happening in these days. So, whenever you have a chance to do something good, do as much as you can.

17Do not live like fools. But instead, understand what the Lord wants you to do.