evil times
Take heed therefore carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days evil are. Because of this, not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord. And not be drunk with wine, in which is debauchery. Instead be filled with Spirit, speaking to each other in psalms, and hymns, and songs spiritual singing and making melody in the heart of you to the Lord; giving thanks at all times, for all things, in name the Lord of us, Jesus Christ; to him who God and Father. Ephesians 5:15-20 picking through a Greek-English interlinear.
When foolishly, frustratingly, and fruitlessly I try to pick my way through the Greek, I murmur it aloud and it sounds not like conversational reading as Paul’s messenger would have read a letter aloud to an assembly, but like a first grader stumbling haltingly one flat word at a time through Dick and Jane. But I only do the Greek for critical study purposes; when I want or need the Scripture for spiritual guidance, I prefer one of the modern translations, of which most all that I have tried are helpful, useful, good. Knowing this scripture (our Second Reading for the upcoming Sunday) is filled with wisdom, and may be a word of knowledge and caution to me personally today, I have looked at a dozen or so English translations. Here are three I like this morning, the CEV, the MEV, and The Voice.
Ephesians 5:15-20 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
15 Act like people with good sense and not like fools. 16 These are evil times, so make every minute count. 17 Don’t be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life. 19 When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart. 20 Always use the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to thank God the Father for everything.
Ephesians 5:15-20 Modern English Version (MEV)
15 See then that you walk carefully, not as fools, but as wise men, 16 making the most of the time because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not be drunk with wine, for that is reckless living. But be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. 20 Give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ephesians 5:15-20 The Voice (VOICE)
15 So be careful how you live; be mindful of your steps. Don’t run around like idiots as the rest of the world does. Instead, walk as the wise! 16 Make the most of every living and breathing moment because these are evil times. 17 So understand and be confident in God’s will, and don’t live thoughtlessly. 18 Don’t drink wine excessively. The drunken path is a reckless path. It leads nowhere. Instead, let God fill you with the Holy Spirit. 19 When you are filled with the Spirit, you are empowered to speak to each other in the soulful words of pious songs, hymns, and spiritual songs; to sing and make music with your hearts attuned to God; 20 and to give thanks to God the Father every day through the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed for all He has done.
So, what’s my point? Wait, watch, and be careful.
W+