The Darby Translation DBY
New Century Version NCV
1 Children, obey your parents in [the] Lord, for this is just.
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Children, obey your parents as the Lord wants, because this is the right thing to do.
2 Honour thy father and thy mother, which is the first commandment with a promise,
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The command says, "Honor your father and mother." This is the first command that has a promise with it --
3 that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest be long-lived on the earth.
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"Then everything will be well with you, and you will have a long life on the earth."
4 And [ye] fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in [the] discipline and admonition of [the] Lord.
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Fathers, do not make your children angry, but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord.
5 Bondmen, obey masters according to flesh, with fear and trembling, in simplicity of your heart as to the Christ;
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Slaves, obey your masters here on earth with fear and respect and from a sincere heart, just as you obey Christ.
6 not with eye-service as men-pleasers; but as bondmen of Christ, doing the will of God from [the] soul,
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You must do this not only while they are watching you, to please them. With all your heart you must do what God wants as people who are obeying Christ.
7 serving with good will as to the Lord, and not to men;
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Do your work with enthusiasm. Work as if you were serving the Lord, not as if you were serving only men and women.
8 knowing that whatever good each shall do, this he shall receive of [the] Lord, whether bond or free.
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Remember that the Lord will give a reward to everyone, slave or free, for doing good.
9 And, masters, do the same things towards them, giving up threatening, knowing that both their and your Master is in heaven, and there is no acceptance of persons with him.
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Masters, in the same way, be good to your slaves. Do not threaten them. Remember that the One who is your Master and their Master is in heaven, and he treats everyone alike.
10 For the rest, brethren, be strong in [the] Lord, and in the might of his strength.
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Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power.
11 Put on the panoply of God, that ye may be able to stand against the artifices of the devil:
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Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil's evil tricks.
12 because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against principalities, against authorities, against the universal lords of this darkness, against spiritual [power] of wickedness in the heavenlies.
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Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world's darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world.
13 For this reason take [to you] the panoply of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having accomplished all things, to stand.
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That is why you need to put on God's full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.
14 Stand therefore, having girt about your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
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So stand strong, with the belt of truth tied around your waist and the protection of right living on your chest.
15 and shod your feet with [the] preparation of the glad tidings of peace:
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On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong.
16 besides all [these], having taken the shield of faith with which ye will be able to quench all the inflamed darts of the wicked one.
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And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One.
17 Have also the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's word;
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Accept God's salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 praying at all seasons, with all prayer and supplication in [the] Spirit, and watching unto this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;
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Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never give up. Always pray for all God's people.
19 and for me in order that utterance may be given to me in [the] opening of my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the glad tidings,
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Also pray for me that when I speak, God will give me words so that I can tell the secret of the Good News without fear.
20 for which I am an ambassador [bound] with a chain, that I may be bold in it as I ought to speak.
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I have been sent to preach this Good News, and I am doing that now, here in prison. Pray that when I preach the Good News I will speak without fear, as I should.
21 But in order that *ye* also may know what concerns me, how I am getting on, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in [the] Lord, shall make all things known to you;
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I am sending to you Tychicus, our brother whom we love and a faithful servant of the Lord's work. He will tell you everything that is happening with me. Then you will know how I am and what I am doing.
22 whom I have sent to you for this very thing, that ye may know of our affairs and that he may encourage your hearts.
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I am sending him to you for this reason -- so that you will know how we are, and he can encourage you.
23 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God [the] Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.
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Peace and love with faith to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption.
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Grace to all of you who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love that never ends.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.