Colossians 2

1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and [for] them at Laodicea, and [for] as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

2 That their hearts may be comforted, being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.

4 And this I say, lest any man should deceive you with enticing words.

Now I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive words.

5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him:

As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,

7 Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest any man make a prey of you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty and deceptive philosophy, according to human tradition, according to the elementary principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

For in him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

10 And ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power:

and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;

12 Buried with him in baptism, in which also ye are raised with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he made alive together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

14 Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;

15 [And] having despoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

having disarmed the rulers and authorities, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16 Let no man therefore judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect of a holy-day, or or the new-moon, or of the sabbaths:

Therefore do not let anyone judge you about food and drink, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,

17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.

which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.

18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19 And not holding the head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God's growth.

20 Wherefore, if ye are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

If you died with Christ from the elementary principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

"Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch"

22 Which all are to perish with the using; ) according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

(all of which perish with use), according to human commandments and teachings?

23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.

Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.