Ephesians 5:15
New International Version
Be very careful, then, how you live—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.

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

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

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore carefully take heed how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

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

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

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

NASB 1995
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,

NASB 1977
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise,

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

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],

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

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

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

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
See therefore that you walk honorably, not as the fools, but as the wise,

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

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

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So then, be very careful how you live. Don't live like foolish people but like wise people.

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

International Standard Version
So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise,

Literal Standard Version
See, then, how exactly you walk, not as unwise, but as wise,

Majority Standard Bible
Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

New American Bible
Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise,

NET Bible
Therefore be very careful how you live--not as unwise but as wise,

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

New Heart English Bible
Therefore watch 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,

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

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

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

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Children of Light
14So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.…

Cross References
Proverbs 15:21
Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.

Ephesians 5:2
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.

Colossians 4:5
Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.


Treasury of Scripture

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

See.

Ephesians 5:33
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Matthew 8:4
And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Matthew 27:4,24
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that

walk.

Exodus 23:13
And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

1 Corinthians 14:20
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

not.

2 Samuel 24:10
And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

Job 2:10
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Psalm 73:22
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

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Ephesians 5
1. After general exhortations to love;
3. to flee sexual immorality;
4. and all uncleanness;
7. not to converse with the wicked;
15. to walk carefully;
18. and to be filled with the Spirit;
22. he descends to the particular duties, how wives ought to obey their husbands;
25. and husbands ought to love their wives,
32. even as Christ does his church.














(15) See then that ye walk (properly, how ye walk) circumspectly.--The word rendered "circumspectly" is properly strictly, or accurately--generally used of intellectual accuracy or thoroughness (as in Matthew 2:8; Luke 1:3; Acts 18:25; Acts 18:28; 1Thessalonians 5:2); only here and in Acts 26:5 ("the straitest sect of our religion") of moral strictness. The idea, therefore, is not of looking round watchfully against dangers, but of "seeing," that is, being careful, "how we walk strictly;" of finding out the clear line of right, and then keeping to it strictly, so as not "to run uncertainly." In the corresponding passage in the Colossian Epistle (Colossians 4:5) a similar admonition has especial reference "to those without," and bids us have a resolute unity of aim, a distinct religious profession, amidst all the bewildering temptations of the world. Here it is more general; it bids men not to trust wholly to general rightness of heart, in which "the spirit is willing," but to be watchful over themselves, and to be a law to themselves, "because the flesh is weak." . . . Verse 15. - Take heed then how ye walk strictly. The construction is somewhat peculiar, combining two ideas - see that you walk strictly, but consider well the kind of strictness. Do not walk loosely, without fixed principles of action; but make sure that your rules are of the true kind. Many are strict who are not wisely strict; they have rules, but not good rules. Not as unwise, but as wise. This rendering brings out the force of ἄσοφοι and σοφυὶ: "fools" (A.V.) is rather strong, for it is not utter folly that is reproved, but easy-mindedness, want of earnest consideration in a matter so infinitely vital, so as to know what is truly best.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Pay careful
ἀκριβῶς (akribōs)
Adverb
Strong's 199: Carefully, exactly, strictly, distinctly. Adverb from the same as akribestatos; exactly.

attention,
Βλέπετε (Blepete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 991: (primarily physical), I look, see, perceive, discern. A primary verb; to look at.

then,
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

to how
πῶς (pōs)
Adverb
Strong's 4459: Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!

you walk,
περιπατεῖτε (peripateite)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4043: From peri and pateo; to tread all around, i.e. Walk at large; figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow.

not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

as
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

unwise
ἄσοφοι (asophoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 781: Unskilled, unwise, foolish. Unwise.

but
ἀλλ’ (all’)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

as
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

wise,
σοφοί (sophoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4680: Wise, learned, cultivated, skilled, clever. Akin to saphes; wise.


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NT Letters: Ephesians 5:15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk not (Ephes. Eph. Ep)
Ephesians 5:14
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