Colossians 4

1 Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

You masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, because you know that you have a master who is in heaven [who will say whether he approves of what you have done].

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving;

Pray to God persistently, and as you pray, be alert and be thanking God.

3 praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;

Since I am in prison [MTY] because [I declared the message about Christ] that God has now revealed, pray also for me that God will give me opportunities [MTY] to speak, in order that I might declare it.

4 that I may reveal it as I ought to speak.

That is, pray for me that [God will enable me to] make his message known publicly. I need to do this because I know that I should declare it.

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

Act wisely towards those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus [MTY]; use every opportunity to do that.

6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

In particular, always speak graciously and in a pleasant way [to those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus]. As a result, you will come to know in what manner you should answer each one of them.

7 All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow slave in the Lord.

Tychicus will tell you all that has been happening to me. He is a fellow believer whom I/we [(exc)] love and who helps me faithfully and who serves the Lord [Jesus] together with me.

8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts,

The reason that I am sending Tychicus to you [with this letter] is that he might know how you are and in order that he might strengthen you [spiritually]. (OR, in order that you might know about us [(exc)] and in order that he might comfort you.)

9 together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.

I am sending him to you with Onesimus, who is a faithful fellow believer whom I/we [(inc)] love and who is your fellow townsman. They will tell you all about what has been happening here.

10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, "if he comes to you, receive him"),

Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, and Mark, who is Barnabas’ cousin, (say that they are thinking fondly about you/send you their greetings). I have instructed you about Mark, so if he comes to you, welcome him.

11 and Jesus who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

Jesus, who is also called Justus, also (says that he is thinking fondly about you/greets you/sends you his greetings). These three men are the only Jewish [believers] who are working with me in order that people would submit to God as their king, and they have all comforted me.

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

Epaphras, who is your fellow townsman and who serves Christ Jesus, (says that he is thinking fondly about you/greets you/sends you his greetings). Epaphras prays earnestly for you very often, that you might be spiritually mature and that you might know fully all that God wills for you.

13 For I testify about him, that he has worked hard for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.

I can assure you that he prays this because he is deeply concerned for you, for those who live in Laodicea [city], and for those who live in Hierapolis [city].

14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.

Luke, the doctor, whom I/we [(exc)] love, and Demas (say that they are thinking fondly about you/send you their greetings).

15 Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that is in her house.

Tell the fellow believers who live in Laodicea [city] and Nympha and the congregation that [meets] in her house that we (are thinking fondly about them/send them our greetings).

16 When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

After [someone] reads this letter [publicly] to you, cause [someone] to also read it to the congregation that is in Laodicea [city]. And as for the [letter that I wrote to the congregation that is in] Laodicea [city], make sure that it is also read among you {you should also read that letter} publicly.

17 Tell Archippus, "See that you fulfill the ministry that you have been given in the Lord."

Say to Archippus, “Make sure that you complete the task that God appointed you to do, because you have a close relationship with the Lord Jesus.”

18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

I, Paul, (am thinking fondly about you/send you my greetings). Having taken the pen from my scribe, I am now writing this myself in order that you may know that I have truly sent this letter. Remember to pray about the fact that I am in prison [MTY]. I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ would continue to act graciously towards you all.