MSG 1 Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. NIV 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. MSG 2 "Honor your father and mother" is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, NIV 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— MSG 3 "so you will live well and have a long life." NIV 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” MSG 4 Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master. NIV 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. MSG 5 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. NIV 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. MSG 6 Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. NIV 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. MSG 7 And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. NIV 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, MSG 8 Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free. NIV 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. MSG 9 Masters, it's the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them. NIV 9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. MSG 10 And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. NIV 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. MSG 11 So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. NIV 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. MSG 12 This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. NIV 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. MSG 13 Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. NIV 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. MSG 14 Truth, righteousness, NIV 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, MSG 15 peace, NIV 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. MSG 16 faith, NIV 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. MSG 17 and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. NIV 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. MSG 18 In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. NIV 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. MSG 19 And don't forget to pray for me. Pray that I'll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, NIV 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, MSG 20 jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out. NIV 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. MSG 21 Tychicus, my good friend here, will tell you what I'm doing and how things are going with me. He is certainly a dependable servant of the Master! NIV 21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. MSG 22 I've sent him not only to tell you about us but to cheer you on in your faith. NIV 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. MSG 23 Good-bye, friends. Love mixed with faith be yours from God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ. NIV 23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. MSG 24 Pure grace and nothing but grace be with all who love our Master, Jesus Christ. NIV 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
NIV 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. NIV 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— NIV 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” NIV 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. NIV 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. NIV 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. NIV 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, NIV 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. NIV 9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. NIV 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. NIV 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. NIV 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. NIV 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. NIV 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, NIV 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. NIV 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. NIV 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. NIV 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. NIV 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, NIV 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. NIV 21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. NIV 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. NIV 23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. NIV 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.