Colossians 3

1 Since, therefore, you were raised to life with the Christ, seek for the things that are above; for it is there that the Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

If, therefore, ye have been raised together with the Christ, the things on high, be seeking, where, the Christ, is—on the right hand of God, sitting;

2 Fix your thoughts on the things that are above, not on those that are on earth.

The things on high, hold in esteem, not the things upon the earth:

3 For you died, and your life now lies hidden, with the Christ, in God.

For ye have died, and, your life, is hid, together with the Christ, in God, —

4 When the Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

As soon as, the Christ, shall be made manifest—our life, then, ye also, together with him, shall be made manifest in glory;

5 Therefore destroy all that is earthly in you – immorality, uncleanness, passions, evil desires, and that greed which is idolatry.

Make dead, therefore, your members that are on the earth—as regardeth fornication, impurity, passion, base coveting, and greed, the which, is idolatry, —

6 These are the things because of which the wrath of God comes,

On account of which things cometh the anger of God, —

7 and to which you, like others, once devoted your lives, when you lived for them.

Wherein, ye also, walked, at one time, when ye were living in these things;

8 You, however, must now lay aside all such things – anger, passion, malice, slander, abuse.

But, now, do, ye also, put them all away, —anger, wrath, baseness, defamation, shameful talk out of your mouth:

9 Never lie to one another. Get rid of your old self and its habits,

Be not guilty of falsehood one to another: having stript off the old man, together with his practices,

10 and clothe yourselves with that new self, which, as it gains in knowledge, is being constantly renewed in resemblance to him who made it.

And having put on the new—who is being moulded afresh unto personal knowledge, after the image of him that hath created him, —

11 In that new life there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all! – and in all!

Wherein there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, foreigner, Scythian, bond, free, —but, all things and in all, Christ:

12 Therefore, as God’s people, consecrated and dear to him, clothe yourselves with tenderness of heart, kindliness, humility, gentleness, forbearance;

Put on, therefore, as men chosen of God, holy and beloved, tender affections of compassion, graciousness, lowliness of mind, meekness, long-suffering,

13 bearing with one another, and, when there is any ground for complaint, forgiving one another freely. As the Master freely forgave you, so you must forgive one another.

Bearing one with another, and in favour forgiving one another—if any, against any, have a complaint, —according as, the Lord, in favour forgave you, so also ye;

14 Over all these virtues put on love; for that is the belt which makes all complete.

And, over all these things, love, which is a uniting-bond of completeness;

15 Let the peace that the Christ gives decide all doubts within your hearts; for you also were called to the enjoyment of peace as members of one body. And show yourselves thankful.

And let, the peace of Christ, act as umpire in your hearts, unto which ye have been called in [one] body, and be thankful:

16 Let the message of the Christ be alive in your minds in all its wealth, bringing all wisdom with it. Teach and admonish one another with psalms, and hymns, and sacred songs, full of the loving kindness of God, lifting your hearts in song to him.

Let, the word of the Christ, dwell within you richly, —in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another, with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with gratitude, raising song with your hearts unto God:

17 And, whatever you say or do, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus; and through him offer thanksgiving to God the father.

And whatsoever ye may be doing, in word, or in work, all things, [do] in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks unto the Divine Father through him: —

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as befits those who belong to the Lord.

Ye wives! be submitting yourselves unto your husbands, as is becoming in the Lord;

19 Husbands, love your wives, and never treat them harshly.

Ye husbands! be loving your wives, and be not embittered against them;

20 Children, always obey your parents; for that is pleasant to see in those who belong to the Lord.

Ye children! be obedient unto your parents in all things, for, this, is, well pleasing, in the Lord;

21 Fathers, never irritate your children, otherwise they might become disheartened.

Ye fathers! be not irritating your children, lest they be disheartened;

22 Slaves, always obey your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you, as if you had but to please people alone, but giving them ungrudging service, in your respect for the Master.

Ye servants! be obedient, in all things, unto them who, according to the flesh, are your masters, —not with eye-service, as man-pleasers, but with singleness of heart, revering the Lord, —

23 Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as if working for the Master and not for people,

Whatsoever ye may be doing, from the soul, be working at it, as unto the Lord, and not unto men, -

24 since you know that it is from the Master that you will receive the inheritance which will be your reward. You are serving Christ, the Master.

Knowing that, from the Lord, ye shall duly receive the recompense of the inheritance, —unto the Lord Christ, are ye in service;

25 Those who do wrong will reap the wrong they have done; and there will be no partiality.

For, he that acteth unrighteously, shall get back what he had unrighteously done, and there is no respect of persons;