New International Version NIV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
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Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right.
2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—
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"Honor your father and mother" is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely,
3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
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"so you will live well and have a long life."
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
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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.
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
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Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ.
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.
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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.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,
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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.
8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
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Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.
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.
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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.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
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And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
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Truth, righteousness,
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
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peace,
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.
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faith,
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
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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.
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.
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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.
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,
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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,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
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jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.
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.
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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!
22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
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I've sent him not only to tell you about us but to cheer you on in your faith.
23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Good-bye, friends. Love mixed with faith be yours from God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ.
24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
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Pure grace and nothing but grace be with all who love our Master, Jesus Christ.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.