Colossians 4

1 Ye masters, doe vnto your seruants, that which is iust, and equall, knowing that ye also haue a master in heauen.

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

2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the fame with thankesgiuing,

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

3 Praying also for vs, that God may open vnto vs the doore of vtterance, to speake ye mysterie of Christ: wherefore I am also in bonds,

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 That I may vtter it, as it becommeth mee to speake.

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

5 Walke wisely towarde them that are without, and redeeme the season.

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

6 Let your speach be gracious alwayes, and powdred with salt, that ye may know how to answere euery man.

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 Tychicus our beloued brother and faithfull minister, and fellow seruant in the Lord, shall declare vnto you my whole state:

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 Whom I haue sent vnto you for the same purpose that he might know your state, and might comfort your hearts,

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

9 With Onesimus a faithfull and a beloued brother, who is one of you. They shall shew you of all things here.

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 Aristarchus my prison fellow saluteth you, and Marcus, Barnabas cousin (touching whom ye receiued commandements. If he come vnto you, receiue him)

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 And Iesus which is called Iustus, which are of the circumcision. These onely are my worke fellowes vnto the kingdome of God, which haue bene vnto my consolation.

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 Epaphras the seruant of Christ, which is one of you, saluteth you, and alwayes striueth for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect, and full in all the will of God.

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 For I beare him record, that he hath a great zeale for you, and for them of Laodicea, and them of 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 Luke the beloued physician greeteth you, and Demas.

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

15 Salute the brethren which are of Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the Church which is in his house.

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

16 And when this Epistle is read of you, cause that it be read in the Church of the Laodiceans also, and that ye likewise reade the Epistle written from Laodicea.

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 And say to Archippus, Take heede to the ministerie, that thou hast receiued in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.

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 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bands. Grace be with you, Amen. ‘Written from Rome to the Colossians, and sent by Tychicus, and Onesimus.’

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