Ephesians 5 good news bible

Here is the book of Ephesians 5 in the Good News Bible (GNB):

Ephesians 5:1-21

1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For this reason, because I know that you yourselves are steadfast, just as God calls you to be steadfast as living stones are joined together to form a spiritual house.

6 This is in agreement with what the prophet says:

"So I will give you the measurements of the temple and the width of its walls, and I will give you the measurements of the gates and the width of the gates, and the measurements of the walls that surround it, and the width of the walls that surround it."

7 "This is the temple of God, and it is sacred; so you must not make it common."

8 "You must not bring shame on it, and you must not make it common, because it is sacred to God."

9 The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 10 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

11 For this reason, since Christ has become our peace, and since we are all children of God through faith in him, we are all partakers of his promise. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

13 I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 14 may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 15 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

16 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 17 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

18 For, "All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. But the word of the Lord endures forever."

19 And this is the word that was preached to you.

20 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. 21 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.