Colossians 4
1 Masters, treat your slaves with justice and equity, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Masters, do what is right and fair by your slaves, for you know that you also have a Master — in Heaven.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Devote yourselves to prayer. Give your whole mind to it, and also offer thanksgiving;
3 At the same time pray for us as well, that God may open a door to us for the word so that we may speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
and at the same time pray for us, 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!
4 Pray that I may make it known in the way that I ought to speak.
Then I shall make them known, as I ought to do.
5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
Show tact in your behaviour to the outside world, making the most of every opportunity.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each person.
Let your conversation always be kindly, and seasoned, as it were, with salt; that you may know in each case what answer you ought to give.
7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is our beloved brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
Our dear Brother, Tychicus, will tell you all about me. He is a faithful minister, and a fellow-servant in the Master’s cause.
8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that he may know how you are doing and encourage your hearts.
I send him to you expressly that you may learn our circumstances, and that he may give you encouragement.
9 With him I have sent Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
With him will be Onesimus, our dear faithful Brother, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you all that is going on here.
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and so does Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him).
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.)
11 Jesus who is called Justus also greets you. These men are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision, and they have been a comfort to me.
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.
12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ, greets you, always striving for you in his prayers, so that you may stand mature and complete in all the will of God.
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.
13 For I testify about him that he has much zeal for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
I can bear testimony to the deep interest he takes in you, as well as in the Brethren at Laodicea and at Hierapolis.
14 Luke, the beloved physician, greets you, and so does Demas.
Luke, our dear doctor, sends you his greeting, and Demas sends his.
15 Give my greetings to the brothers in Laodicea, and to Nymphas and the church that meets in his house.
Give my greeting to the Brethren at Laodicea, and to Nymphe, and to the Church that meets at her house.
16 After this letter has been read among you, have it read in the church of the Laodiceans as well, and make sure you also read the letter from Laodicea.
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.
17 Tell Archippus, “Be sure to complete the ministry yoʋ have received in the Lord.”
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.’
18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting. Remember these chains of mine. God’s blessing be with you.
