Ephesians 4:28
26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
- KJV
- Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
- WEB
- Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.
- ASV
- Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need.
- DARBY
- Let the stealer steal no more, but rather let him toil, working what is honest with [his] hands, that he may have to distribute to him that has need.
- BLB
- The one stealing, let him steal no longer, but rather let him toil, working with [his] own hands what [is] good, so that he may have [something] to impart to the one having need.
- ÅB
- Den som stjal, stjele ikke lenger, men arbeide heller, idet han gjør noe godt med sine hender, for at han kan ha noe å gi til den som trenger.
- OTB
- Den som har stjålet, må ikke stjele lenger, men må arbeide, gjøre noe nyttig med sine egne hender, så han kan ha noe å dele med dem som er i nød.
- B1930
- Den som stjal, stjele ikke lenger, men arbeide heller, idet han gjør noget godt med sine hender, forat han kan ha noget å gi til den som trenger.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Timothy 6:18
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
Read in contextGalatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
Read in context1 Thessalonians 4:11–12
and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.
Read in contextExodus 20:15
You shall not steal.
Read in context2 Thessalonians 3:11–12
Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.
Read in context2 Thessalonians 3:6–8
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.
Read in contextZechariah 5:3
Then he told me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the land, for according to one side of the scroll, every thief will be removed; and according to the other side, every perjurer will be removed.
Read in contextLuke 21:1–4
Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,
Read in context