I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
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With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
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Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
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There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
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One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
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One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
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But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
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Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
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(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
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He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
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And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
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For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
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Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
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That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness*, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
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But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
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From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part*, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
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This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as* other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
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Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
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Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
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But ye have not so learned Christ;
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If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
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That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
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And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
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And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
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Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
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Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
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Neither give place to the devil.
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Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth*.
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Let no* corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
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And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
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Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
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And be ye kind one to another*, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as* God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
1 [A Prayer of David.] Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
