Parallel Verses

An Understandable Version

Nor should obscenity, silly chatter or double-meaning jokes be used, because they are not proper either. But instead, [you should express] thanksgiving.

New American Standard Bible

and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

King James Version

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Holman Bible

Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.

International Standard Version

Obscene, flippant, or vulgar talk is totally inappropriate. Instead, let there be thanksgiving.

A Conservative Version

also indecency, and foolish talking or jesting, things not befitting, but thankfulness instead.

American Standard Version

nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks.

Amplified

Let 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].

Anderson New Testament

nor obscene language, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not becoming; but rather the cheerful words of. a thankful heart.

Bible in Basic English

And let there be no low behaviour, or foolish talk, or words said in sport, which are not right, but in place of them the giving of praise.

Common New Testament

And there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather let there be thanksgiving.

Daniel Mace New Testament

nor buffoonry, which they call pleasantry, but is indecent: be you rather exercised in social virtue.

Darby Translation

and filthiness and foolish talking, or jesting, which are not convenient; but rather thanksgiving.

Godbey New Testament

and indecorum, or foolish talking, or indecent jesting, which is not becoming, but rather the giving of thanks:

Goodspeed New Testament

There must be no indecency or foolish or scurrilous talk??ll that is unbecoming. There should be thanksgiving instead.

John Wesley New Testament

Neither obscenity, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not convenient, but rather thanksgiving.

Julia Smith Translation

And obscenity, and silly discourse, or wit, which things concern not; but rather thankfulness.

King James 2000

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not fitting: but rather giving of thanks.

Lexham Expanded Bible

and obscenity, and foolish talk, or coarse jesting (which [are] not proper), but rather thanksgiving.

Modern King James verseion

neither baseness, foolish talking, jesting, which are not becoming, but rather giving of thanks.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

neither filthiness, neither foolish talking, neither jestings, which are not comely: but rather giving of thanks.

Moffatt New Testament

no, nor indecent, silly, or scurrilous talk ??all that is improper. Rather, voice your thanks to God.

Montgomery New Testament

so too with vulgarity and buffoonery and foolish jesting. Such words become you not, but rather thanksgiving.

NET Bible

Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting -- all of which are out of character -- but rather thanksgiving.

New Heart English Bible

nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks.

Noyes New Testament

neither obscenity, nor foolish talking, nor indecent jesting, which are not becoming; but rather giving of thanks.

Sawyer New Testament

nor indecorum and foolish talking, or jesting, things not becoming, but rather giving of thanks.

The Emphasized Bible

And shamelessness and foolish talking, or jesting, - which things are beneath you, - but, rather, giving of thanks;

Thomas Haweis New Testament

or obscenity, or foolish talk, or loose witticisms; things which become not [a Christian], but rather thanksgiving.

Twentieth Century New Testament

Nor shameful conduct, nor foolish talk or jesting, for they are wholly out of place among you; but rather thanksgiving.

Webster

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Weymouth New Testament

Avoid shameful and foolish talk and low jesting--they are all alike discreditable--and in place of these give thanks.

Williams New Testament

there must be no indecency, silly talk or suggestive jesting, for they are unbecoming. There should be thanksgiving instead.

World English Bible

nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks.

Worrell New Testament

nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not becoming, but rather thanks-giving.

Worsley New Testament

nor ribaldry, nor buffoonery, nor wanton jesting, which are not meet: but rather giving of thanks.

Youngs Literal Translation

also filthiness, and foolish talking, or jesting, -- the things not fit -- but rather thanksgiving;

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage

and, also, even, both, then, so, likewise, not tr., , vr and
Usage: 0

αἰσχρότης 
Aischrotes 
Usage: 1

nor


ἤ 
and, also, even, both, then, so, likewise, not tr., , vr and
or, than, either, or else, nor, not tr,
Usage: 0
Usage: 199

μωρολογία 
Morologia 
Usage: 1

εὐτραπελία 
Eutrapelia 
Usage: 1


which, who, the things, the son,
Usage: 0

are
ἀνήκω 
Aneko 
be convenient, be fit
Usage: 3

not
οὐ 
Ou 
not, no, cannot ,
Usage: 1032

ἀνήκω 
Aneko 
be convenient, be fit
Usage: 3

but
ἀλλά 
Alla 
but, yea, yet, nevertheless, howbeit, nay, therefore, save, not tr,
Usage: 461

μᾶλλον 
Mallon 
more, rather, the more, better ,
Usage: 66

References

Prayers for Ephesians 5:4

Context Readings

Imitators Of God

3 But you should not even talk about sexual immorality, or any type of [moral] impurity, or greed. [Note: Possibly "greed" here means "desire for more" of such things]. Such talk is not suitable for saints [i.e., God's holy people]. 4 Nor should obscenity, silly chatter or double-meaning jokes be used, because they are not proper either. But instead, [you should express] thanksgiving. 5 For you [should] know this for certain: No sexually immoral or [morally] impure person, or greedy person, who is [the same as] an idol worshiper, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.


Cross References

Ephesians 4:29

Do not allow unwholesome [Note: The Greek word for "unwholesome" is "rotten, diseased"] language to come from your mouth, but only what is helpful for building up those who need it, so that you can impart favor [i.e., benefit] to those who listen [to you].

Romans 1:28

And since these people refused to acknowledge God, He has allowed [or, abandoned] them to have degraded minds and to practice those things which they should not do.

Matthew 12:34-37

You children of snakes! Since you are evil, how do you expect to speak good things? For the mouth speaks what the heart is filled with.

Mark 7:22

greedy desires, wickedness, deceit, unrestrained indecency, envy, slander, arrogance and foolishness.

John 6:23

(However, meanwhile, some other [small] boats had come from Tiberias [i.e., a small town on the west side of the lake] near where they had eaten bread after the Lord had given thanks).

2 Corinthians 1:11

as you cooperate by praying for us. Then, many people will give thanks [to God] on our behalf for the gift He has given to us through [your] many [prayers].

2 Corinthians 9:15

I thank God for His indescribable gift [i.e., Christ. See Rom. 8:32].

Ephesians 1:16

I do not stop thanking [God] for you. I keep asking, in my prayers,

Ephesians 5:19-20

Speak to one another by using psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your hearts to the Lord.

Philippians 4:6

Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and [special] petition, along with thanksgivings, you should make your requests known to God.

Colossians 3:8

But now you also should stop practicing them: anger, wrath, malice, slander, filthy language from your mouth.

Colossians 3:15-17

You should let the peace given by Christ rule in your hearts, since you people were called [to be at peace] in one body [i.e., the church]; and you should be thankful.

1 Thessalonians 3:9

For how can we thank God [enough] for you, in return for all the joy we have over you, in the presence of our God?

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Thank [God] for everything, for this is what God wants for you in [the fellowship of] Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 13:15

[So], through Jesus then, we should continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the expression of our lips as we confess His name [to be our Lord].

James 3:4-8

Look, even though ships are huge and are driven by strong winds, still their direction can be governed by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires to sail.

2 Peter 2:7

and if He rescued the righteous man Lot, who had become very disturbed by unrestrained wickedness [of the people there in Sodom].

2 Peter 2:18

[Although] their talk is big, what they say is worthless, and by [offering people] fleshly desires [i.e., sexual gratification], they lead people astray, who are barely escaping from the error of the world.

Jude 1:10

But these people [i.e., the "certain men" of verse 4] speak against whatever they do not understand, and what they do understand naturally, the way animals do, proves to be their ruination.

Jude 1:13

[They are like] raging ocean waves, whose shameful actions bubble up like foam. [They are like] shooting stars [whose light quickly goes out], for whom total darkness has been reserved forever.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain