Kolossensern 4

1 I Herrer! yder eders Trælle, hvad ret og billigt er, da I vide, at ogsaa I have en Herre i Himmelen.

Masters, do what is right and fair by your slaves, for you know that you also have a Master – in heaven.

2 Værer vedholdende i Bønnen, idet I ere aarvaagne i den med Taksigelse,

Devote yourselves to prayer. Give your whole mind to it, and also offer thanksgiving;

3 idet I tillige bede ogsaa for os, at Gud vil oplade os en Ordets Dør til at tale Kristi Hemmelighed, for hvis Skyld jeg ogsaa er bunden,

and at the same time pray for us, so that God may give us an opening for our message, so that we may speak of the truths hidden in the Christ – the truths for which I am in chains!

4 for at jeg kan aabenbare den saaledes, som jeg bør tale.

Then I will make them known, as I ought to do.

5 Vandrer i Visdom over for dem, som ere udenfor, saa I købe den belejlige Tid.

Show tact in your behaviour to the outside world, making the most of every opportunity.

6 Eders Tale være altid med Ynde, krydret med Salt, saa I vide, hvorledes I bør svare enhver især.

Let your conversation always be kindly, but not bland, season it, as it were, with salt; be aware in each case of the answer you should be giving.

7 Hvorledes det gaar mig, skal Tykikus, den elskede Broder og tro Tjener og Medtjener i Herren, kundgøre eder alt sammen;

Our dear friend, Tychicus, will tell you all about me. He is a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Master’s cause.

8 ham sender jeg til eder, netop for at I skulle lære at kende, hvorledes det staar til med os, og for at han skal opmuntre eders Hjerter,

I send him to you expressly that you may learn our circumstances, and that he may give you encouragement.

9 tillige med Onesimus, den tro og elskede Broder, som er fra eders By; de skulle fortælle eder, hvorledes alt staar til her.

With him will be Onesimus, our dear faithful friend, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you all that is going on here.

10 Aristarkus, min Medfange, hilser eder, og Markus, Barnabas's Søskendebarn, om hvem I have faaet Befalinger — dersom han kommer til eder, da tager imod ham —

My fellow prisoner, Aristarchus, sends you his greeting, and Barnabas’s cousin, Mark, sends his. (You have received directions about him. If he comes to you, make him welcome.)

11 og Jesus, som kaldes Justus, hvilke af de omskaarne ere de eneste Medarbejdere for Guds Rige, som ere blevne mig en Trøst.

Joshua, who is called Justus, also sends his greeting. These are the only converts from Judaism who have worked with me for the kingdom of God; I have found them a great comfort.

12 Epafras hilser eder, han, som er fra eders By, en Kristi Jesu Tjener, som altid strider for eder i sine Bønner, for at I maa staa fuldkomne og fuldvisse i al Guds Villie.

Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, sends you his greeting. He is a servant of Christ Jesus, and is always most earnest in your behalf in his prayers, praying that you may stand firm, with a matured faith and with a sure conviction of all that is in accordance with God’s will.

13 Thi jeg giver ham det Vidnesbyrd, at han har megen Møje for eder og dem i Laodikea og dem i Hierapolis.

I can bear testimony to the deep interest he takes in you, as well as in the followers at Laodicea and at Hierapolis.

14 Lægen Lukas, den elskede, hilser eder, og Demas.

Luke, our dear doctor, sends you his greeting, and Demas sends his.

15 Hilser Brødrene i Laodikea og Nymfas og Menigheden i deres Hus.

Give my greeting to the followers at Laodicea, and to Nymphe, and to the church that meets at her house.

16 Og naar dette Brev er oplæst hos eder, da sørger for, at det ogsaa bliver oplæst i Laodikensernes Menighed, og at I ogsaa læse Brevet fra Laodikea.

And when this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read before the church at Laodicea, and that you yourselves read the letter which will be forwarded from there.

17 Og siger til Arkippus: Giv Agt paa den Tjeneste, som du har modtaget i Herren, at du fuldbyrder den.

Give this message to Archippus – “Take care to discharge to the best of your ability the office to which you were appointed in the Master’s cause.”

18 Hilsenen med min, Paulus's, egen Haand. Kommer mine Lænker i Hu! Naaden være med eder!

I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting. Remember these chains of mine. God’s blessing be with you.