< Colossians 4 >
1 Masters, do what is right and fair by your slaves, for you know that you also have a Master – in heaven.
Masters, deal justly and fairly with your slaves, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer. Give your whole mind to it, and also offer thanksgiving;
Be unwearied in prayer, and keep awake in it when giving thanks.
3 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!
Keep on praying for me, too, that God may open for me a door of utterance to speak the secret truth of Christ, for which I am a prisoner.
4 Then I will make them known, as I ought to do.
Pray that I may unfold it as I ought to speak.
5 Show tact in your behaviour to the outside world, making the most of every opportunity.
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward those without, buying up your opportunities.
6 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.
Let your speech be always gracious, with a savor of salt, and learn how to give every man a fitting answer.
7 Our dear friend, Tychicus, will tell you all about me. He is a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Master’s cause.
Tychicus, my beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow slave in the Lord, will make known to you all that concerns me.
8 I send him to you expressly that you may learn our circumstances, and that he may give you encouragement.
I have sent him with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, one of your own number, for this very purpose, to let you know how I am, and to cheer your hearts.
9 With him will be Onesimus, our dear faithful friend, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you all that is going on here.
They will inform you of all that goes on here.
10 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.)
Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, salutes you, and Marcus, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, make him welcome), and Jesus surnamed Justas.
11 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.
These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, belonging to the circumcision, who have been any comfort to me.
12 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.
Epaphras, one of yourselves, salutes you, a slave of Christ who is always agonizing for you in his prayers, that you may stand firm, mature, and fully assured in all the will of God.
13 I can bear testimony to the deep interest he takes in you, as well as in the followers at Laodicea and at Hierapolis.
For I can testify to his deep interest in you and in those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 Luke, our dear doctor, sends you his greeting, and Demas sends his.
Luke, the beloved physician, salutes you, and so does Demas.
15 Give my greeting to the followers at Laodicea, and to Nymphe, and to the church that meets at her house.
Salute the brothers in Laodicea; Nympha also, and the church which meets at her house.
16 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.
And when this letter has been read to you, see that it is read also in the church of Laodiceans, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
17 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.”
And tell Archippas to take heed to the ministry which he has received in the Lord, that he may fulfill it.
18 I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting. Remember these chains of mine. God’s blessing be with you.
I, Paul, add this farewell in my own handwriting. Do not forget these chains of mine. Grace be with you.