| English Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. | 1Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven. An Encouragement for Prayer |
| 2Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. | 2Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. |
| 3At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— | 3Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. |
| 4that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. | 4Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. |
| 5Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. | 5Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. |
| 6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. | 6Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Paul’s Final Instructions and Greetings |
| 7Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. | 7Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. |
| 8I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, | 8I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. |
| 9and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. | 9I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening here. |
| 10Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), | 10Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. |
| 11and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. | 11Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been! |
| 12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. | 12Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. |
| 13For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. | 13I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis. |
| 14Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. | 14Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. |
| 15Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. | 15Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. |
| 16And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. | 16After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them. |
| 17And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.” | 17And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.” |
| 18I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. | 18 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul . Remember my chains. May God’s grace be with you. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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