Colossians 3

1 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;

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.’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These are the things on account of which the Wrath of God comes,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13 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;

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.

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

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

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

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.

16 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:

Let the Message of the Christ dwell 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.

17 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: —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fathers, never irritate your children, lest they should become disheartened.

22 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, —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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