Colossians 2

1 For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

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

2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Messiah,

that their hearts may be comforted, they being firmly united in love in order to gain all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may acknowledge the mystery of God, even the Father, and of Christ,

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

in whom are stored up all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.

4 Now I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive words.

Now I say this, that no one may deceive you by persuasive words.

5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Messiah.

For, though I am absent in flesh, yet I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to behold your order, and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

6 As therefore you received Messiah Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,

As, therefore, you received Christ Jesus our Lord, so walk in him,

7 rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

rooted, and built up in him, and strengthened in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty and deceptive philosophy, according to human tradition, according to the elementary principles of the world, and not according to Messiah.

See that no one make you the victims of imposture by means of philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ:

9 For in him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

for in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhood bodily.

10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;

And you are complete in him who is the head of all principality and authority:

11 in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Messiah;

in whom you have been also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in the putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

when you were buried with him in immersion, in which you were also raised with him by your faith in the energy of God, who raised him from the dead.

13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

And you, being dead to your offenses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has made alive together with him, having forgiven you all your offenses;

14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;

having blotted out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us, which was opposed to us, he also took it out of the way, driving a nail through it by means of his cross;

15 having disarmed the rulers and authorities, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

and having spoiled the principalities and authorities, he made a show of them openly by triumphing over them through it.

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you about food and drink, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,

Let no one judge you, therefore, in meat or in drink, or in respect to a feast, or the new moon, or sabbaths,

17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Messiah's.

which things are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is in Christ,

18 Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Let no one gain his purpose in depriving you of the palm by an affected humility and worship of angels, prying into things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19 and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God's growth.

and not holding the head, from which the whole body gathering vigor, and firmly united by joints and bands, increases with the increase of God.

20 If you died with Messiah from the elementary principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,

If, then, you have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you submit to ordinances?

21 "Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch"

Touch not, taste not, handle not,

22 (all of which perish with use), according to human commandments and teachings?

(all of which are for the destruction of those who use them, ) according to the commandments and teachings of men;

23 Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

and these have a show of wisdom in will-worship and affected humility and neglect of the body, and in no regard for the gratification of the flesh.