Ephesians 5:15

Amplified Bible

Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people],

Parallel Translations

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible
Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

Contemporary English Version
Act like people with good sense and not like fools.

Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life — live wisely, not unwisely.

Darby Translation
See therefore how ye walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise,

Easy-to-Read Version
So be very careful how you live. Live wisely, not like fools.

American Standard Version
Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise;

Bible in Basic English
Take care then how you are living, not as unwise, but as wise;

Geneva Bible (1587)
Take heede therefore that yee walke circumspectly, not as fooles, but as wise,

George Lamsa Translation
Watch therefore, that you live a glorious life, not as foolish men, but as wise men,

Hebrew Names Version
Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise;

International Standard Version
So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise,Colossians 4:5;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
See then that you walk vigilantly, not as fools,

Murdock Translation
See therefore, that ye walk circumspectly; not like the simple,

Good News Translation
So be careful how you live. Don't live like ignorant people, but like wise people.

Christian Standard Bible®
Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—

New International Version (1984)
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,

King James Version (1611)
See then that yee walke circumspectly, not as fooles, but as wise,

Update Bible Version
Look therefore carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise;

Webster's Bible Translation
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

King James Version
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Lexham English Bible
Therefore, consider carefully how you live, not as unwise but as wise,

Literal Translation
Then watch how carefully you walk, not as unwise, but as wise ones,

New American Standard Bible
So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise,

New Century Version
So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely.

New English Translation
Therefore be very careful how you live—not as unwise but as wise,

New International Version
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,

New King James Version
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

World English Bible
Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
See then that ye walk circumspectly,

Weymouth's New Testament
Therefore be very careful how you live and act. Let it not be as unwise men, but as wise.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor, britheren, se ye, hou warli ye schulen go;

New Life Bible
So be careful how you live. Live as men who are wise and not foolish.

New Revised Standard
Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Be taking heed, therefore, exactly how ye are walking, - not as unwise, but as wise, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
See therefore, brethren, how you walk circumspectly: not as unwise,

Revised Standard Version
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Take hede therfore that ye walke circuspectly: not as foles: but as wyse

Young's Literal Translation
See, then, how exactly ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Take hede therfore how ye walke circumspectly, not as the vnwyse, but as ye wyse,

Mace New Testament (1729)
See then that you behave circumspectly, and not as fools, but as wise,

English Revised Version
Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise;

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Take heede therfore howe ye walke circumspectlye: not as vnwyse, but as wyse,

English Standard Version
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

New Living Translation
So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Be careful how you ride. Don't ride like fools, but like top hands.

Contextual Overview

³But sexual immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith]. ⁴Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse [obscene or vulgar] joking, because such things are not appropriate [for believers]; but instead speak of your thankfulness [to God]. ⁵For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God]. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty arguments [that encourage you to sin], for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience [those who habitually sin]. ⁷So do not participate or even associate with them [in the rebelliousness of sin]. ⁸For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light] ⁹(for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), ¹⁰trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation]. ¹¹Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character]; ¹²for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that such people practice in secret.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

See: Ephesians 5:33, Matthew 8:4, Matthew 27:4, Matthew 27:24, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, Hebrews 12:25, 1 Peter 1:22, Revelation 19:10

walk: Exodus 23:13, Matthew 10:16, 1 Corinthians 14:20, Philippians 1:27, Colossians 1:9, Colossians 4:5

not: 2 Samuel 24:10, Job 2:10, Psalms 73:22, Proverbs 14:8, Matthew 25:2, Luke 24:25, Galatians 3:1, Galatians 3:3, 1 Timothy 6:9, James 3:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 5:22 - General Genesis 23:17 - made sure Deuteronomy 2:4 - take ye Joshua 7:2 - Go up Joshua 23:11 - Take good 1 Samuel 18:30 - behaved himself 2 Chronicles 23:2 - went about Psalms 112:4 - he is gracious Psalms 112:5 - he will Proverbs 2:11 - General Proverbs 4:26 - Ponder Proverbs 15:21 - a man Proverbs 18:1 - seeketh Ecclesiastes 10:10 - wisdom Amos 5:13 - an evil Luke 17:3 - heed John 12:35 - Walk Romans 1:14 - both to Romans 13:13 - us 1 Corinthians 15:36 - fool 2 Corinthians 8:20 - that Ephesians 5:17 - be Colossians 1:10 - ye

Cross-References

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

See then that ye walk circumspectly,.... The Alexandrian copy and the Vulgate Latin version read, "see then, brethren", it being an exhortation to the saints at Ephesus, upon the foregoing discourse and citation, to take heed to their walk: the believer's walk is both inward and outward; his inward walk is by faith on Christ; his outward walk is his conversation among men: this supposes life; requires strength and prudence; denotes continuance and progression; with patience and courage: this walk should be seen to, and watched over; a man should see to it that he does walk, and to the way in which he walks, and how he walks; that he walks circumspectly, with his eyes about him; that he walks with diligence, caution, accuracy, and exactness, to the uttermost of his strength and power; and with wisdom and prudence, looking well to his going:

not as fools, but as wise; such walk like fools, whose eyes are not upon their ways; who walk in their own ways, which are crooked, and ways of darkness, and lead to destruction; who walk after the flesh, and naked, without the garments of a holy life and conversation; and with lamps, but no oil in them: and such walk as wise men, who walk according to the rule of God's word, make Christ their pattern, have the Spirit for their guide, and walk as becomes the Gospel of Christ; inoffensively to all men, in wisdom towards them that are without, and in love to them that are within; and as pilgrims and strangers in this world, looking for a better country; and so as to promote the glory of God, and the good of souls.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See then that ye walk circumspectly - carefully, anxiously, solicitous lest you fall into sin. The word rendered “circumspectly” - ἀκριβῶς akribōs - means “diligently,” and the idea here is, that they were to take special pains to guard against the temptations around them, and to live as they ought to.

Not as fools, but as wise - Not as the people of this world live, indulging in foolish pleasures and desires, but as those who have been taught to understand heavenly wisdom, and who have been made truly wise.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 15. Walk circumspectly — Our word circumspect, from the Latin circirmspicio, signifies to look round about on all hands; to be every way watchful, wary, and cautious, in order to avoid danger, discern enemies before they come too nigh, and secure a man's interest by every possible and lawful means. But the original word ακριβως signifies correctly, accurately, consistently, or perfectly. Be ye, who have received the truth, careful of your conduct; walk by the rule which God has given you; do this as well in little as in great matters; exemplify your principles, which are holy and good, by a corresponding conduct; do not only profess, but live the Gospel. As you embrace all its promises, be careful also to embrace all its precepts; and behave yourselves so, that your enemies may never be able to say that ye are holy in your doctrines and profession, but irregular in your lives.

Not as fools, but as wise — Μη ὡς ασοφοι, αλλ' ὡς σοφοι. The heathens affected to be called σοφοι, or wise men. Pythagoras was perhaps the first who corrected this vanity, by assuming the title of φιλοσοφος, a lover of wisdom; hence our term philosopher, used now in a much prouder sense than that in which the great Pythagoras wished it to be applied. The apostle here takes the term σοφος, and applies it to the Christian; and, instead of it, gives the empty Gentile philosopher the title of ασοφος, without wisdom, fool.