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].
Ihr Herren, behandelt eure Knechte gerecht und gleich, da ihr wisset, daß auch ihr einen Herrn im Himmel habt!
2 Pray to God persistently, and as you pray, be alert and be thanking God.
Verharret im Gebet und wachet darin mit Danksagung.
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.
Betet zugleich auch für uns, damit Gott uns eine Tür öffne für das Wort, um das Geheimnis Christi auszusprechen, um dessentwillen ich auch gebunden bin,
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.
damit ich es so kundtue, wie ich reden soll.
5 Act wisely towards those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus [MTY]; use every opportunity to do that.
Wandelt in Weisheit gegen die, welche außerhalb [der Gemeinde] sind, und kaufet die Zeit aus.
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.
Eure Rede sei allezeit anmutig, mit Salz gewürzt, damit ihr wisset, wie ihr einem jeden antworten sollt.
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.
Was mich betrifft, wird euch alles Tychikus kundtun, der geliebte Bruder und treue Diener und Mitknecht im Herrn,
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.)
den ich eben darum zu euch gesandt habe, damit ihr erfahret, wie es bei uns stehe, und daß er eure Herzen tröste,
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.
samt Onesimus, dem treuen und geliebten Bruder, der einer der Eurigen ist; sie werden euch alles kundtun, was hier vorgeht.
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.
Es grüßt euch Aristarchus, mein Mitgefangener, und Markus, der Vetter des Barnabas, betreffs dessen ihr Befehle erhalten habt (wenn er zu euch kommt, so nehmet ihn auf!),
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.
und Jesus, der Justus genannt wird, die aus der Beschneidung sind. Diese allein sind meine Mitarbeiter für das Reich Gottes, die mir zum Trost geworden sind.
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.
Es grüßt euch Epaphras, der einer der Euren ist, ein Knecht Christi, der allezeit in den Gebeten für euch kämpft, damit ihr vollkommen und völlig gewiß bestehen möget in allem, was der Wille Gottes ist;
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].
denn ich gebe ihm das Zeugnis, daß er sich viel Mühe gibt um euch und um die in Laodizea und 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).
Es grüßt euch Lukas, der geliebte Arzt, und 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).
Grüßet die Brüder in Laodizea und den Nymphas und die Gemeinde in seinem Hause.
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.
Und wenn der Brief bei euch gelesen ist, so sorget dafür, daß er auch in der Gemeinde zu Laodizea gelesen werde und daß ihr auch den aus Laodizea leset.
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.”
Und saget dem Archippus: Siehe auf den Dienst, den du im Herrn empfangen hast, damit du ihn erfüllest!
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.
Der Gruß mit meiner, des Paulus Hand. Gedenket meiner Bande! Die Gnade sei mit euch!
