Colossians 4

1 You masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, because you know that you have a master who is in heaven [who will say whether he approves of what you have done].

Masters, provide your slaves with what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in the heavens.

2 Pray to God persistently, and as you pray, be alert and be thanking God.

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving,

3 Since I am in prison [MTY] because [I declared the message about Christ] that God has now revealed, pray also for me that God will give me opportunities [MTY] to speak, in order that I might declare it.

at the same time praying for us, that God may open to us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ (for which I am also in chains),

4 That is, pray for me that [God will enable me to] make his message known publicly. I need to do this because I know that I should declare it.

that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5 Act wisely towards those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus [MTY]; use every opportunity to do that.

Behave wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.

6 In particular, always speak graciously and in a pleasant way [to those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus]. As a result, you will come to know in what manner you should answer each one of them.

Let your word always be with grace, seasoned with salt, to know how you ought to answer each one.

7 Tychicus will tell you all that has been happening to me. He is a fellow believer whom I/we [(exc)] love and who helps me faithfully and who serves the Lord [Jesus] together with me.

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow slave in the Lord.

8 The reason that I am sending Tychicus to you [with this letter] is that he might know how you are and in order that he might strengthen you [spiritually]. (OR, in order that you might know about us [(exc)] and in order that he might comfort you.)

I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and encourage your hearts,

9 I am sending him to you with Onesimus, who is a faithful fellow believer whom I/we [(inc)] love and who is your fellow townsman. They will tell you all about what has been happening here.

with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you; they will tell you everything that is happening here.

10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, and Mark, who is Barnabas’ cousin, (say that they are thinking fondly about you/send you their greetings). I have instructed you about Mark, so if he comes to you, welcome him.

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him),

11 Jesus, who is also called Justus, also (says that he is thinking fondly about you/greets you/sends you his greetings). These three men are the only Jewish [believers] who are working with me in order that people would submit to God as their king, and they have all comforted me.

and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the Kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have been a comfort to me.

12 Epaphras, who is your fellow townsman and who serves Christ Jesus, (says that he is thinking fondly about you/greets you/sends you his greetings). Epaphras prays earnestly for you very often, that you might be spiritually mature and that you might know fully all that God wills for you.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a slave of Christ, greets you; he is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

13 I can assure you that he prays this because he is deeply concerned for you, for those who live in Laodicea [city], and for those who live in Hierapolis [city].

I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.

14 Luke, the doctor, whom I/we [(exc)] love, and Demas (say that they are thinking fondly about you/send you their greetings).

Luke the beloved physician greets you, also Demas.

15 Tell the fellow believers who live in Laodicea [city] and Nympha and the congregation that [meets] in her house that we (are thinking fondly about them/send them our greetings).

Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the congregation at his house.

16 After [someone] reads this letter [publicly] to you, cause [someone] to also read it to the congregation that is in Laodicea [city]. And as for the [letter that I wrote to the congregation that is in] Laodicea [city], make sure that it is also read among you {you should also read that letter} publicly.

Now when this letter has been read among you, see that it is also read in the Laodicean congregation, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Say to Archippus, “Make sure that you complete the task that God appointed you to do, because you have a close relationship with the Lord Jesus.”

And say to Archippus, “See to it that you complete the work that you received in the Lord.”

18 I, Paul, (am thinking fondly about you/send you my greetings). Having taken the pen from my scribe, I am now writing this myself in order that you may know that I have truly sent this letter. Remember to pray about the fact that I am in prison [MTY]. I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ would continue to act graciously towards you all.

This greeting is in my own hand: Paul. Remember my chains. The Grace be with you. Amen.