Ephesians 6:1-13

1You who are children, obey your parents. Because you belong to the Lord, that is the right thing to do.

2God's Law says: ‘Always respect your father and your mother.’ That is the first rule of God's Law that also has a promise.

3The promise is this: ‘As a result, you will be happy and you will live for a long time on the earth.’

4Fathers, do not do things that make your children angry. Instead, teach them carefully as they grow up. Help them to understand the message of the Lord, and help them to obey it.

5You who are slaves, obey your human masters. Respect them and be afraid of them. Work well to help them, as if you were working for Christ as your master.

6Do not do good work only when they can see you. Some people only work to make other people like them. Instead, work well all the time, as slaves who serve Christ. Work in the way that God wants you to work.

7Be happy to obey your human masters. Remember that you are serving the Lord himself, not just other people.

8You know that anyone who does some good thing will receive a good gift from the Lord. This will happen whether that person is a slave or a free person.

9You who are masters, be good to your slaves in the same way. Do not frighten them with punishment. Remember that both you and your slaves have the same Master in heaven. And he is always fair when he judges people, whoever they are.

10At the end of my letter, I want to say this to you: Be united with the Lord, so that you are strong. Then his great power will help you.

11Use all the help that God gives to us. Then you can be like a soldier who fights against the Devil. You must put on the whole armour that God gives to us. The Devil attacks us in clever ways, and we need to be strong.

12We are not fighting against human enemies. Instead, we are fighting against the rulers and the powerful spirits that have authority over this dark world. We are fighting against the bad spirits who live in the heavens.

13Because of that, take all the help that God gives, like it is your armour. Then, when the bad time comes, you will be able to stand strongly. You will not fall. After you have finished everything, you will still be standing strongly in your place.