EPH 5:16 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

UST Do the most good that you can with the time that you have, because people are doing more and more evil things every day.

AICNT redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

OEB making the most of every opportunity; for these are evil days.

WEBBE redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

LSV redeeming the time, because the days are evil;

FBV making the best use of opportunities because the days are evil.

TCNT making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

T4T Use your time carefully, because these days [MTY] people do extremely evil deeds.

LEB making the most of the time because the days are evil.

BBE Making good use of the time, because the days are evil.

Moff make the very most of your time, for these are evil days.

Wymth Buy up your opportunities, for these are evil times.

ASV redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

DRA But as wise: redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

YLT redeeming the time, because the days are evil;

Drby redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

RV redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

SLT Making purchase of time, for the days are evil.

Wbstr Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

KJB-1769 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

KJB-1611 Redeming the time, because the dayes are euill.
(Redeming the time, because the days are evil.)

Bshps Redeemyng the time, because ye dayes are euyll.
(Redeeming the time, because ye/you_all days are evil.)

Gnva Redeeming ye season: for ye daies are euill.
(Redeeming ye/you_all season: for ye/you_all days are evil. )

Cvdl and redeme the tyme, for it is a miserable tyme.
(and redeem the time, for it is a miserable time.)

TNT redemynge the tyme: for the dayes are evyll.
(redeming the time: for the days are evil. )

Wycl not as vnwise men, but as wise men, ayenbiynge tyme, for the daies ben yuele.
(not as unwise men, but as wise men, ayenbiing time, for the days been evil.)

Luth Und schicket euch in die Zeit; denn es ist böse Zeit.
(And sends you in the time/period; because/than it is evil time/period.)

ClVg sed ut sapientes: redimentes tempus, quoniam dies mali sunt.[fn]
(but as wise_people: redimentes time/season, since/because days evil are. )

5.16 Redimentes tempus. Id est, quod minus fecistis in uno tempore, restituite in alio, dimidiantes dies quos impii non dimidiant. Alii enim dimidiant, alii implent dies, alii nec incipiunt; id est, alii moriuntur in Ægypto, alii in deserto, alii in terra sancta. Nec mirum si minus fecistis, quoniam dies mali sunt, nec possunt omnia agi pro libitu.

5.16 Redimentes time/season. That it_is, that minus you_did in/into/on one at_the_time, restituite in/into/on another, halfntes days which wicked not/no halfnt. Others because halfnt, others implent days, others but_not they_begin; that it_is, others they_die in/into/on to_Egypt, others in/into/on in_the_desert, others in/into/on earth/land holy. Neither strange when/but_if minus you_did, since/because days evil are, but_not they_can everything agi for libitu.

UGNT ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν, ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσιν.
(exagorazomenoi ton kairon, hoti hai haʸmerai ponaʸrai eisin.)

SBL-GNT ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν, ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσιν.
(exagorazomenoi ton kairon, hoti hai haʸmerai ponaʸrai eisin.)

RP-GNT ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν, ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσιν.
(exagorazomenoi ton kairon, hoti hai haʸmerai ponaʸrai eisin.)

TC-GNT ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν, ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσι.
(exagorazomenoi ton kairon, hoti hai haʸmerai ponaʸrai eisi. )

Key for above GNTs: red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:1–20: Paul described behavior which is fitting for believers

In chapter 5, Paul continued with the subject of Christian behavior, which he had begun in the last section of chapter 4. So it is not necessary to start a new section here. One reason to start a new section here is to help the reader, as the previous section is already long. Some English versions begin a new section at 5:1 (BSB, GNT, NLT, NET, GW, NCV, ESV, NASB, NKJV), and some do not (NIV, RSV, NRSV, NJB, CEV, REB, KJV). You may want to consult your national translation and follow their example.

In this section, Paul exhorted the Christians to imitate God and avoid the sins of the pagan people surrounding them.

Here are some other examples for a heading for this section:

Living in the light (GNT, NLT, NCV)

Imitate God (GW)

Paragraph 5:15–17

In 5:15, 5:17 and 5:18, Paul gives three pairs of commands:

5:15 “walk…not as unwise but as wise”

5:17 “do not be foolish, but understand…”

5:18 “do not get drunk…. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (RSV).

In each case Paul gives a negative command (something to not do) followed by “but” or “Instead,” then a positive command (something to do). Think how to translate these commands naturally in your language. Here are some possibilities:

In some languages, it will be better to use a conjunction other than “but” to link the negative and positive commands, for example:
Do not behave like unwise people; instead, behave like wise people.
In some languages, it is best to use no conjunction at all, for example:
Do not behave like unwise people. Behave like wise people!
In some languages, it is more natural to put the positive first. For example:
Behave like wise people; do not behave as unwise people.

5:16a

redeeming the time,

Use every occasion wisely/effectively for good,
Use every chance you have for doing good, (NCV)

redeeming the time: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as redeeming the time means to “make good use of your time,” or “use your time wisely/effectively.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Make good use of every opportunity (GNT)

Use every chance you have for doing good (NCV)

so make every minute count (CEV)

This clause is the same as Colossians 4:5. Compare your translations of these two passages and use similar wording.

In both passages, Paul advised Christians to use every opportunity or occasion to show and tell the world what a true follower of Christ was.

5:16b

because the days are evil.

because these are evil times. (CEV)
because people do much evil at this time.

because the days are evil: The clause the days are evil means that “at this time, people do much evil.” Paul is not saying that the days themselves are evil. People will continue to do many evil deeds.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

these are evil times (CEV)

General Comment on 5:16a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder the parts of 5:16a–b. For example:

^16bThese are evil times, ^16aso make every minute count. (CEV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν

redeeming (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τόν καιρόν ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσίν)

Using time wisely is spoken of as if it were redeeming the time. Alternate translation: [doing the best things you can with your time] or [using time wisely] or [putting time to its best use]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσιν

because the days evil (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τόν καιρόν ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσίν)

The word days is a metonym for what people do during those days. Alternate translation: [because the people around you are constantly doing all kinds of evil things and the opportunities that you have to do good may become few]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ὅτι

because

The connecting word because introduces the reason of a reason-result relationship. The reason is that the days are evil. The result is that the believers must redeem the time. Use a phrase in your language that connects a reason to a result.

Parallel EPH 5:16

Section 5:1–20: Paul described behavior which is fitting for believers

Paragraph 5:15–17

5:16a

5:16b

General Comment on 5:16a–b