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Colossians 4

Masters, give your servants what is right and fair, knowing that you have a Master in heaven yourselves. Keep at your prayers, staying alert in them, and thankful. And pray for us as well, that God would open a door for our message, so we can speak the mystery of Christ — which is why I am in chains — and that I would make it plain, the w

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Prayer and wisdom

Masters, give your servants what is right and fair, knowing that you have a Master in heaven yourselves. Keep at your prayers, staying alert in them, and thankful. And pray for us as well, that God would open a door for our message, so we can speak the mystery of Christ — which is why I am in chains — and that I would make it plain, the way I ought to speak. Be wise in how you deal with outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, with a bit of salt in it, so you know how to answer everyone.

Masters, give your servants what's just and equal, knowing that you've got a Master in heaven too. Go on in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Praying at the same time for us too, that God would open to us a door of speech, to speak the secret of Christ, that I'm in chains for too. So I can make it plain, the way I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom towards the ones outside, buying up the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, so you can know how you ought to answer every man.

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

1

Masters, give your servants what is right and fair, knowing that you have a Master in heaven yourselves.

Plain English

Masters, give your servants what's just and equal, knowing that you've got a Master in heaven too.

King James Version, 1611

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

2

Keep at your prayers, staying alert in them, and thankful.

Plain English

Go on in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

King James Version, 1611

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

3

And pray for us as well, that God would open a door for our message, so we can speak the mystery of Christ — which is why I am in chains —

Plain English

Praying at the same time for us too, that God would open to us a door of speech, to speak the secret of Christ, that I'm in chains for too.

King James Version, 1611

Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

4

and that I would make it plain, the way I ought to speak.

Plain English

So I can make it plain, the way I ought to speak.

King James Version, 1611

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

5

Be wise in how you deal with outsiders, making the most of the time.

Plain English

Walk in wisdom towards the ones outside, buying up the time.

King James Version, 1611

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

6

Let your speech always be gracious, with a bit of salt in it, so you know how to answer everyone.

Plain English

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, so you can know how you ought to answer every man.

King James Version, 1611

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Final greetings

Tychicus will tell you all about how I am getting on. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so he might know how you are doing and comfort your hearts, along with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of your own. They will tell you everything that is happening here. Aristarchus, in prison with me, sends his regards, and so does Marcus, Barnabas's sister's son — you have had instructions about him: if he comes to you, make him welcome — and Jesus, who is called Justus. These are the only Jewish believers among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a real comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of your own, a servant of Christ, sends his regards. He is always wrestling for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. I can vouch for him: he has great zeal for you, and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke, the dear doctor, sends his regards, and so does Demas. Say hello to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nymphas and the church in his house. And when this letter has been read among you, see that it is read in the church of the Laodiceans too, and that you read the letter from Laodicea. And tell Archippus: Take heed to the ministry you received in the Lord, and make sure you fulfil it. This greeting is in my own hand — Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

All my state Tychicus will tell you, who is a beloved brother and a faithful servant and fellow servant in the Lord. Who I've sent to you for that same purpose, so he could know how you're doing and comfort your hearts. With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They'll make known to you everything that's done here. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark, sister's son to Barnabas (about him you got orders — if he comes to you, take him in), and Jesus who's called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellow workers to the kingdom of God, who've been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, greets you, always working strongly for you in prayers, so you can stand grown up and complete in all the will of God. Because I bear him record that he's got a great zeal for you and for the ones in Laodicea and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved doctor, and Demas greet you. Greet the brothers in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church in his house. And when this letter is read among you, see that it's read in the church of the Laodiceans too, and that you read the letter from Laodicea likewise. And say to Archippus: Watch the service you've got in the Lord, so you carry it out. The greeting by the hand of me Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

7

Tychicus will tell you all about how I am getting on. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.

Plain English

All my state Tychicus will tell you, who is a beloved brother and a faithful servant and fellow servant in the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

8

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so he might know how you are doing and comfort your hearts,

Plain English

Who I've sent to you for that same purpose, so he could know how you're doing and comfort your hearts.

King James Version, 1611

Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

9

along with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of your own. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

Plain English

With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They'll make known to you everything that's done here.

King James Version, 1611

With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

10

Aristarchus, in prison with me, sends his regards, and so does Marcus, Barnabas's sister's son — you have had instructions about him: if he comes to you, make him welcome —

Plain English

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark, sister's son to Barnabas (about him you got orders — if he comes to you, take him in),

King James Version, 1611

Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

11

and Jesus, who is called Justus. These are the only Jewish believers among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a real comfort to me.

Plain English

and Jesus who's called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellow workers to the kingdom of God, who've been a comfort to me.

King James Version, 1611

And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

12

Epaphras, who is one of your own, a servant of Christ, sends his regards. He is always wrestling for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Plain English

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, greets you, always working strongly for you in prayers, so you can stand grown up and complete in all the will of God.

King James Version, 1611

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

13

I can vouch for him: he has great zeal for you, and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Plain English

Because I bear him record that he's got a great zeal for you and for the ones in Laodicea and them in Hierapolis.

King James Version, 1611

For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

14

Luke, the dear doctor, sends his regards, and so does Demas.

Plain English

Luke, the beloved doctor, and Demas greet you.

King James Version, 1611

Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

15

Say hello to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nymphas and the church in his house.

Plain English

Greet the brothers in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church in his house.

King James Version, 1611

Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

16

And when this letter has been read among you, see that it is read in the church of the Laodiceans too, and that you read the letter from Laodicea.

Plain English

And when this letter is read among you, see that it's read in the church of the Laodiceans too, and that you read the letter from Laodicea likewise.

King James Version, 1611

And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

17

And tell Archippus: Take heed to the ministry you received in the Lord, and make sure you fulfil it.

Plain English

And say to Archippus: Watch the service you've got in the Lord, so you carry it out.

King James Version, 1611

And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

18

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

Plain English

The greeting by the hand of me Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

King James Version, 1611

The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.