| New American Standard Bible 1995 | New Living Translation |
| 1Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too 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 |
| 2Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; | 2Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. |
| 3praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; | 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 in the way I ought to speak. | 4Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. |
| 5Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. | 5Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. |
| 6Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to 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 |
| 7As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. | 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. |
| 8For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances 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 your number. They will inform you about the whole situation 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, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas's cousin Mark (about whom you 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 also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement 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 your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect 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 testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. | 13I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis. |
| 14Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas. | 14Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. |
| 15Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is 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. |
| 16When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming 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. |
| 17Say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it." | 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 imprisonment. Grace be with you. | 18 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul . Remember my chains. May God’s grace be with you. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | 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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