6:1 | Children,* obey your parents in the Lord* for this is right. |
6:2 | “Honor your father and mother,”* which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely, |
6:3 | “that it may go* well with you and that you will live* a long time on the earth.”* |
6:4 | Fathers,* do not provoke your children to anger,* but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. |
6:5 | Slaves,* obey your human masters* with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ, |
6:6 | not like those who do their work only when someone is watching* – as people-pleasers – but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.* |
6:7 | Obey* with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord* and not people, |
6:8 | because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this* will be rewarded by the Lord. |
6:9 | Masters,* treat your slaves* the same way,* giving up the use of threats,* because you know that both you and they have the same master in heaven,* and there is no favoritism with him. |
6:10 | Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. |
6:11 | Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes* of the devil. |
6:12 | For our struggle* is not against flesh and blood,* but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness,* against the spiritual forces* of evil in the heavens.* |
6:13 | For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground* on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. |
6:14 | Stand firm therefore, by fastening* the belt of truth around your waist,* by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, |
6:15 | by fitting your* feet with the preparation that comes from the good news* of peace,* |
6:16 | and in all of this,* by taking up the shield* of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. |
6:17 | And take the helmet of salvation* and the sword* of the Spirit, which is the word of God. |
6:18 | With every prayer and petition, pray* at all times in the Spirit, and to this end* be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints. |
6:19 | Pray* for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak* – that I may confidently make known* the mystery of the gospel, |
6:20 | for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak. |
6:21 | Tychicus, my* dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances,* how I am doing. |
6:22 | I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances* and that he may encourage your hearts. |
6:23 | Peace to the brothers and sisters,* and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
6:24 | Grace be* with all of those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.* |