THE HOLY
BIBLE
Douay-Rheims Version
THE LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS
The Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, Chapter 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, to
all the saints who are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in
Christ Jesus.
2 Grace be to you, and peace from God the Father, and from
the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly
places, in Christ:
4 As he chose us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and unspotted in his sight in
charity.
5 Who hath predestinated us unto the adoption of children
through Jesus Christ unto himself: according to the
purpose of his will:
6 Unto the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he
hath graced us in his beloved son.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the
remission of sins, according to the riches of his grace,
8 Which hath superabounded in us in all wisdom and prudence,
9 That he might make known unto us the mystery of his will,
according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in
him,
10 In the dispensation of the fulness of times, to
re-establish all things in Christ, that are in heaven and
on earth, in him.
11 In whom we also are called by lot, being predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things
according to the counsel of his will.
12 That we may be unto the praise of his glory, we who before
hoped Christ:
13 In whom you also, after you had heard the word of truth,
(the gospel of your salvation;) in whom also believing,
you were signed with the holy Spirit of promise,
14 Who is the pledge of our inheritance, unto the redemption
of acquisition, unto the praise of his glory.
15 Wherefore I also, hearing of your faith that is in the
Lord Jesus, and of your love towards all the saints,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making commemoration of
you in my prayers,
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and of
revelation, in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what
the hope is of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power towards
us, who believe according to the operation of the might of
his power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, raising him up from the dead,
and setting him on his right hand in the heavenly places.
21 Above all principality, and power, and virtue, and
dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this
world, but also in that which is to come.
22 And he hath subjected all things under his feet, and hath
made him head over all the church,
23 Which is his body, and the fulness of him who is filled
all in all.
The Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, Chapter 2
1 And you, when you were dead in your offences, and sins,
2 Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of
this world, according to the prince of the power of this
air, of the spirit that now worketh on the children of
unbelief:
3 In which also we all conversed in time past, in the
desires of our flesh, fulfilling the will of the flesh and
of our thoughts, and were by nature children of wrath,
even as the rest:
4 But God, (who is rich in mercy,) for his exceeding charity
wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together
in Christ, (by whose grace you are saved,)
6 And hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit
together in the heavenly places, through Christ Jesus.
7 That he might shew in the ages to come the abundant riches
of his grace, in his bounty towards us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves, for it is the gift of God;
9 Not of works, that no man may glory.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus in
good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in
them.
11 For which cause be mindful that you, being heretofore
Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by
that which is called circumcision in the flesh, made by
hands;
12 That you were at that time without Christ, being aliens
from the conversation of Israel, and strangers to the
testament, having no hope of the promise, and without God
in this world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus, you, who some time were afar off,
are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and breaking
down the middle wall of partition, the enmities in his
flesh:
15 Making void the law of commandments contained in decrees;
that he might make the two in himself into one new man,
making peace;
16 And might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross,
killing the enmities in himself.
17 And coming, he preached peace to you that were afar off,
and peace to them that were nigh.
18 For by him we have access both in one Spirit to the
Father.
19 Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners;
but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and the
domestics of God,
20 Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone:
21 In whom all the building, being framed together, groweth
up into an holy temple in the Lord.
22 In whom you also are built together into an habitation of
God in the Spirit.
The Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, Chapter 3
1 For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, for
you Gentiles;
2 If yet you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of
God which is given me towards you:
3 How that, according to revelation, the mystery has been
made known to me, as I have written above in a few words;
4 As you reading, may understand my knowledge in the mystery
of Christ,
5 Which in other generations was not known to the sons of
men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and
prophets in the Spirit:
6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same
body, and co-partners of his promise in Christ Jesus, by
the gospel:
7 Of which I am made a minister, according to the gift of
the grace of God, which is given to me according to the
operation of his power:
8 To me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace,
to preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of
Christ,
9 And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the
dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from
eternity in God, who created all things:
10 That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the
principalities and powers in heavenly places through the
church,
11 According to the eternal purpose, which he made, in Christ
Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the
faith of him.
13 Wherefore I pray you not to faint at my tribulations for
you, which is your glory.
14 For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his
glory, to be strengthened by his Spirit with might unto
the inward man,
17 That Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts; that being
rooted and founded in charity,
18 You may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what
is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth:
19 To know also the charity of Christ, which surpasseth all
knowledge, that you may be filled unto all the fulness of
God.
20 Now to him who is able to do all things more abundantly
than we desire or understand, according to the power that
worketh in us;
21 To him be glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus unto
all generations, world without end. Amen.
The Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, Chapter 4
1 I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you
walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called,
2 With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting
one another in charity.
3 Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace.
4 One body and one Spirit; as you are called in one hope of
your calling.
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through
all, and in us all.
7 But to every one of us is given grace, according to the
measure of the giving of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith: Ascending on high, he led captivity
captive; he gave gifts to men.
9 Now that he ascended, what is it, but because he also
descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended above all
the heavens, that he might fill all things.
11 And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other
some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors,
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the age of the fulness of Christ;
14 That henceforth we be no more children tossed to and fro,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the
wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which they
lie in wait to deceive
15 But doing the truth in charity, we may in all things grow
up in him who is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body, being compacted and fitly joined
together, by what every joint supplieth, according to the
operation in the measure of every part, maketh increase of
the body, unto the edifying of itself in charity.
17 This then I say and testify in the Lord: That
henceforward you walk not as also the Gentiles walk in the
vanity of their mind,
18 Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from
the life of God through the ignorance that is in them,
because of the blindness of their hearts.
19 Who despairing, have given themselves up to
lasciviousness, unto the working of all uncleanness, unto
the working of all uncleanness, unto covetousness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught in
him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 To put off, according to former conversation, the old man,
who is corrupted according to the desire of error.
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind:
24 And put on the new man, who according to God is created in
justice and holiness of truth.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak ye the truth every
man with his neighbour; for we are members one of another.
26 Be angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your
anger.
27 Give not place to the devil.
28 He that stole, let him now steal no more; but rather let
him labour, working with his hands the thing which is
good, that he may have something to give to him that
suffereth need.
29 Let no evil speech proceed from your mouth; but that which
is good, to the edification of faith, that it may
administer grace to the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God: whereby you are
sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and anger, and indignation, and
clamour, and blasphemy, be put away from you, with all
malice.
32 And be ye kind one to another; merciful, forgiving one
another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ.
The Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, Chapter 5
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath
delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to
God for an odour of sweetness.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let
it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints:
4 Or obscenity, or foolish talking, or scurrility, which is
to no purpose; but rather giving of thanks.
5 For know you this and understand, that no fornicator, or
unclean, or covetous person (which is a serving of idols),
hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words. For because of
these things cometh the anger of God upon the children of
unbelief.
7 Be ye not therefore partakers with them.
8 For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the
Lord. Walk then as children of the light.
9 For the fruit of the light is in all goodness, and
justice, and truth;
10 Proving what is well pleasing to God:
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For the things that are done by them in secret, it is a
shame even to speak of.
13 But all things that are reproved, are made manifest by the
light; for all that is made manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith: Rise thou that sleepest, and arise
from the dead: and Christ shall enlighten thee.
15 See therefore, brethren, how you walk circumspectly: not
as unwise,
16 But as wise: redeeming the time, because the days are
evil.
17 Wherefore become not unwise, but understanding what is the
will of God.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury; but be ye
filled with the holy Spirit,
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual
canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the
Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, to God and the Father:
21 Being subject one to another, in the fear of Christ.
22 Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord:
23 Because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is
the head of the church. He is the saviour of his body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so also let
the wives be to their husbands in all things.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the
church, and delivered himself up for it:
26 That he might sanctify it, cleansing it by the laver of
water in the word of life:
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not
having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
should be holy, and without blemish.
28 So also ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.
He that loveth his wife, loveth himself.
29 For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and
cherisheth it, as also Christ doth the church:
30 Because we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of
his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother,
and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one
flesh.
32 This is a great sacrament; but I speak in Christ and in
the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular love for his
wife as himself: and let the wife fear her husband.
The Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, Chapter 6
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just.
2 Honour thy father and thy mother, which is the first
commandment with a promise:
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest be long
lived upon earth.
4 And you, fathers, provoke not your children to anger; but
bring them up in the discipline and correction of the
Lord.
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your lords
according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the
simplicity of your heart, as to Christ:
6 Not serving to the eye, as it were pleasing men, but, as
the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the
heart,
7 With a good will serving, as to the Lord, and not to men.
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man shall do, the
same shall he receive from the Lord, whether he be bond,
or free.
9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, forbearing
threatenings, knowing that the Lord both of them and you
is in heaven; and there is no respect of persons with him.
10 Finally, brethren, be strengthened in the Lord, and in the
might of his power.
11 Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to
stand against the deceits of the devil.
12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but
against principalities and power, against the rulers of
the world of this darkness, against the spirits of
wickedness in the high places.
13 Therefore take unto you the armour of God, that you may be
able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things
perfect.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,
and having on the breastplate of justice,
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of
peace:
16 In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you
may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most
wicked one.
17 And take unto you the helmet of salvation, and the sword
of the Spirit (which is the word of God).
18 By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the
spirit; and in the same watching with all instance and
supplication for all the saints:
19 And for me, that speech may be given me, that I may open
my mouth with confidence, to make known the mystery of the
gospel.
20 For which I am an ambassador in a chain, so that therein
I may be bold to speak according as I ought.
21 But that you also may know the things that concern me, and
what I am doing, Tychicus, my dearest brother and faithful
minister in the Lord, will make known to you all things:
22 Whom I have sent to you for this same purpose, that you
may know the things concerning us, and that he may comfort
your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren and charity with faith, from God
the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in
incorruption. Amen.
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