1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”6:3 Deut. 5:16
4Fathers,6:4 Or Parents do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey 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. 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
9And 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.
The Armor of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For 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. 13Therefore 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. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18And 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. 19Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Final Greetings
21Tychicus, 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. 22I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
23Peace to the brothers and sisters,6:23 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family. and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.6:24 Or Grace and immortality to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ana ndi Makolo Awo
1Inu ana, mverani makolo anu mwa Ambuye, pakuti zimenezi ndi zoyenera. 2“Lemekeza abambo ndi amayi ako.” Limeneli ndi lamulo loyamba lokhala ndi lonjezo. 3Ngati ulemekeza abambo ako ndi amayi ako, “zinthu zidzakuyendera bwino ndipo udzasangalala ndi moyo wautali pa dziko lapansi.” 4Abambo musakwiyitse ana anu; mʼmalo mwake, muwalere mʼchiphunzitso ndi mʼchilangizo cha Ambuye.
Antchito ndi Mabwana Awo
5Inu antchito, mverani mabwana anu mwaulemu ndi mwamantha ndi moona mtima, monga momwe mungamvere Khristu. 6Musawamvere pamene akukuonani kuti akukomereni mtima, koma ngati akapolo a Khristu ochita chifuniro cha Mulungu kuchokera mu mtima mwanu. 7Tumikirani ndi mtima wonse, ngati kuti mukutumikira Ambuye, osati anthu. 8Inu mukudziwa kuti Ambuye adzamupatsa munthu aliyense mphotho chifukwa cha ntchito yake yabwino imene anagwira, kaya munthuyo ndi kapolo kapena mfulu.
9Ndipo inu mabwana, muziwachitiranso chimodzimodzi antchito anu. Musamawaopseze, popeza mukudziwa kuti Mbuye wawo ndi wanunso, nonse Mbuye wanu ali kumwamba, ndipo Iyeyo alibe tsankho.
Zida Zankhondo za Mulungu
10Potsiriza ndikuti, dzilimbitseni mwa Ambuye ndi mwa mphamvu zake zazikulu. 11Valani zida zonse za Mulungu kuti muthe kuyima ndi kukana machenjerero a Satana. 12Pakuti sitikulimbana ndi thupi ndi magazi, koma tikulimbana ndi maufumu, maulamuliro, mphamvu za dziko la mdima, ndi mphamvu zoyipa kwambiri zauzimu zamlengalenga. 13Choncho valani zida zonse za Mulungu, kuti pamene tsiku loyipa kwambiri lifika, mudzathe kuyima chilili, ndipo mutatha kuchita zonse, mudzayimabe mwamphamvu. 14Tsono imani mwamphamvu, mutamangira choonadi ngati lamba mʼchiwuno mwanu, mutavala chilungamo ngati chitsulo chotchinjiriza pa chifuwa. 15Valani Uthenga Wabwino wamtendere ku mapazi anu ngati nsapato. 16Kuwonjezera pa zonsezi, nyamulani chishango cha chikhulupiriro, ndipo ndi chimenechi mudzatha kuzimitsa mivi yonse yoyaka moto ya oyipayo. 17Valani chipewa cha chipulumutso ndi kutenga lupanga la mzimu, limene ndi Mawu a Mulungu. 18Ndipo mupemphere mwa Mzimu nthawi zonse, mʼmitundu yonse ya mapemphero ndi zopempha. Ndipo pozindikira izi, khalani achangu kupempherera oyera mtima nthawi zonse.
19Mundipempherere inenso, kuti nthawi iliyonse pamene nditsekula pakamwa panga, andipatse mawu kuti ndiwulule zinsinsi za Uthenga Wabwino mopanda mantha. 20Ndine kazembe wa Uthenga Wabwinowu ngakhale ndili womangidwa mʼndende. Pempherani kuti ndilalikire mopanda mantha, monga ndiyenera.
Mawu Otsiriza
21Tukiko, mʼbale wanga wokondedwa ndi mtumiki wokhulupirika mwa Ambuye, adzakuwuzani zonse kuti inunso mudziwe mmene ndilili ndi zimene ndikuchita. 22Ine ndikumutumiza kwa inu, kuti mudziwe za moyo wathu, ndi kuti akulimbikitseni.
23Mtendere, chikondi pamodzi ndi chikhulupiriro kuchokera kwa Mulungu Atate ndi Ambuye Yesu Khristu zikhale ndi abale onse. 24Chisomo kwa onse amene amakonda Ambuye athu Yesu Khristu ndi chikondi chosatha.
