Colossians 2

1 For I would have you know what combat I have for you, and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in flesh;

For I wish you to know how great a conflict I have in behalf of you, and those in Laodicea, and so many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

2 to the end that their hearts may be encouraged, being united together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to [the] full knowledge of the mystery of God;

in order that their hearts may be comforted, being knitted together in divine love, and in all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, unto the perfect knowledge of the mystery of God, of Christ,

3 in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.

in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 And I say this to the end that no one may delude you by persuasive speech.

I say this in order that no one may deceive you with a persuasive speech.

5 For if indeed in the flesh I am absent, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

For if I am absent in the flesh, but I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the establishment of your faith toward Christ.

6 As therefore ye have received the Christ, Jesus the Lord, walk in him,

Therefore as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk about in him,

7 rooted and built up in him, and assured in the faith, even as ye have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

having been rooted and grounded in him, and confirmed in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See that there be no one who shall lead you away as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the teaching of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.

See that no one shall be deceiving you through philosophy and empty delusion, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ,

9 For in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;

because in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,

10 and ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and authority,

and you are complete in him, who is the head of all government and authority:

11 in whom also ye have been circumcised with circumcision not done by hand, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of the Christ;

in whom you are also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of depravity, in the circumcision of Christ;

12 buried with him in baptism, in which ye have been also raised with [him] through faith of the working of God who raised him from among the dead.

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you are also raised by the faith of the operation of God, who raised him from the dead:

13 And you, being dead in offences and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has quickened together with him, having forgiven us all the offences;

and you, being dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your depravity, has he created life in you along with himself, having forgiven us all transgressions,

14 having effaced the handwriting in ordinances which [stood out] against us, which was contrary to us, he has taken it also out of the way, having nailed it to the cross;

having blotted out the handwriting which was against us in ordinances, which was antagonistical to us: and took it out from the midst, having nailed it to the cross;

15 having spoiled principalities and authorities, he made a show of them publicly, leading them in triumph by it.

having destroyed governments and authorities, he made a public exhibition of them triumphing over them on it.

16 Let none therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in matter of feast, or new moon, or sabbaths,

Therefore let no one judge you in meat, or in drink, or in the participation of a feast, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath:

17 which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.

which things are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is of Christ.

18 Let no one fraudulently deprive you of your prize, doing his own will in humility and worship of angels, entering into things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,

Let no one purposely rob you of your prize by humiliation and worship of the angels, trusting in those things which he has seen, being vainly puffed up by the mind of his depravity,

19 and not holding fast the head, from whom all the body, ministered to and united together by the joints and bands, increases with the increase of God.

and not holding the Head, from which the entire body, by joints and ligaments being supplied and knitted together, increases the increase of God.

20 If ye have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why as [if] alive in [the] world do ye subject yourselves to ordinances?

If along with Christ you are dead from the elements of the world, why are you dogmatized as living in the world,

21 Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch,

Touch not, taste not, handle not,

22 (things which are all for destruction in the using [of them]: ) according to the injunctions and teachings of men,

those things which are all unto destruction by use according to the commandments and teachings of the people?

23 (which have indeed an appearance of wisdom in voluntary worship, and humility, and harsh treatment of the body, not in a certain honour, ) to [the] satisfaction of the flesh.

Which indeed are having a word of wisdom in will worship, and humiliation, and austerity of the body; not in any value against the indulgence of the flesh.