< Colossians 3 >

1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
If however you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, enthroned at God's right hand.
2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
Give your minds to the things that are above, not to the things that are on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, your life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
When Christ appears--He is our true Life--then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever is worldly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Therefore put to death your earthward inclinations--fornication, impurity, sensual passion, unholy desire, and all greed, for that is a form of idolatry.
6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the children of disobedience.
It is on account of these very sins that God's anger is coming,
7 You also once walked in those, when you lived in them;
and you also were once addicted to them, while you were living under their power.
8 but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
But now you must rid yourselves of every kind of sin--angry and passionate outbreaks, ill-will, evil speaking, foul-mouthed abuse--so that these may never soil your lips.
9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices,
Do not speak falsehoods to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its doings,
10 and have put on the new self, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
and have clothed yourselves with the new self which is being remoulded into full knowledge so as to become like Him who created it.
11 where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
In that new creation there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free man, but Christ is everything and is in all of us.
12 Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, gentleness, humility, and patience;
Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own people holy and dearly loved, with tender-heartedness, kindness, lowliness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as the Lord forgave you, so you also do.
bearing with one another and readily forgiving each other, if any one has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also must forgive.
14 Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
And over all these put on love, which is the perfect bond of union;
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
and let the peace which Christ gives settle all questionings in your hearts, to which peace indeed you were called as belonging to His one Body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to God.
Let the teaching concerning Christ remain as a rich treasure in your hearts. In all wisdom teach and admonish one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and sing with grace in your hearts to God.
17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and let it be through Him that you give thanks to God the Father.
18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Married women, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter against them.
Married men, be affectionate to your wives, and do not treat them harshly.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
Children be obedient to your parents in everything; for that is right for Christians.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so that they won't be discouraged.
Fathers, do not fret and harass your children, or you may make them sullen and morose.
22 Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as people-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.
Slaves, be obedient in everything to your earthly masters; not in acts of eye service, as aiming only to please men, but with simplicity of purpose, because you fear the Lord.
23 And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for people,
Whatever you are doing, let your hearts be in your work, as a thing done for the Lord and not for men.
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
For you know that it is from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. Christ is the Master whose bondservants you are.
25 But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.
The man who perpetrates a wrong will find the wrong repaid to him; and with God there are no merely earthly distinctions.

< Colossians 3 >