5:16a

redeeming the time: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible 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 (Good News Translation)
-or-
Use every chance you have for doing good (New Century Version)
-or-
so make every minute count (Contemporary English Version)

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: 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 (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 5:16a–b

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

16b These are evil times, 16a so make every minute count. (Contemporary English Version)

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