Have nothing to do with translates “and do not participate”; the Greek verb means “to share with, have a part in” (see the synonymous expression in verse 7). This may be expressed in some languages as simply “do not go along with people when they do.”

The Greek text follows, “the fruitless works of darkness.” These are worthless deeds that belong to the darkness, that is, to the moral and spiritual darkness where God’s light has not penetrated (verse 8). It may be possible to render worthless things as “deeds that have no value.” But the lack of value in deeds may also be expressed as “deeds which do not help anyone.” If the figure of darkness is difficult to understand, a translation may say “things that are evil (or, sinful).” But the contrast between darkness and light should be preserved, if possible.

Bring … out to the light translates a Greek verb which in most places means “reprove, condemn, censure”; here, however, as in John 3.20, it means “to expose” (see Revised Standard Version, Goodspeed, and most others); New English Bible has “show them up for what they are.” But some prefer “denounce” (Bible de Jérusalem), “condemn” (New American Bible), “disprove” (Barth). But “expose” seems to fit the sense better here, especially in light of the use of the verb in verse 13 (so Robinson, Abbott, Beare, Westcott). So Good News Translation, in order to tie it in closely with verse 13, translates bring them out to the light (also Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje).

Without some degree of caution a literal rendering of bring them out to the light is likely to refer to the people rather than to the things which they do. However, the figurative language of bring them out to the light may be difficult to understand in this context, since it is difficult to bring events into the light. One can, however, “cause people to know about these things.”

Verse 12 is a parenthetical comment, the thought going from verse 11 to verse 13. Shameful translates an adjective used also in 1 Corinthians 11.6; 14.35; Titus 1.11, and nowhere else in the New Testament.

It is not certain what the things they do in secret are. In the context the things would seem to be sinful conduct, especially of the kind referred to in verses 3-5. But Beare believes that the reference is to secret and immoral pagan religious rites.

Verse 12 seems to be a contradiction to the command at the end of verse 11, since verse 11 insists upon the deeds being exposed while verse 12 suggests that it is even too shameful to talk about such matters. It may therefore be necessary in the introduction of verse 12 to employ a contrastive device, for example, “on the other hand” or “but.”

In place of too shameful it may be necessary to use “very shameful,” since a literal translation of too shameful might require some kind of comparison.

In a number of languages it is difficult to use a kind of substitute subject implied by the pronoun it, which really refers to the verbal expression to talk about the things they do in secret. It may therefore be necessary to restructure this sentence to read “if a person even talks about the things they do in secret, he would feel great shame.”

A rendering of the things they do in secret may be “what people do when others cannot see them.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1982. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .