4 Masters, be fair to your servants. Give them what is right. Remember that you also serve a master, and he is in heaven.
2 Continue to pray seriously. Stay awake, like people who watch carefully. And remember to thank God. 3 Also pray for us. Ask God to make it possible for us to tell people his message. We want people to understand the message about Christ that was a secret before. I am now in a prison because I taught people those things. 4 Pray that I will be able to tell people this message clearly. That is what I should do.
5 When you are with people who do not believe in Christ, be careful how you live. Use every chance to do good things. 6 When you speak to people, always speak kind words. Say things that will help them. Then, when someone asks you a question, you will know how to reply.
7 Our Christian friend, Tychicus, will tell you all the news about me. He works hard to serve the Lord. Like me, he is the Lord's servant. 8 I want him to tell you what is happening to us, so that you will feel stronger. That is the reason why I am sending him to you. 9 Onesimus will travel with him. As you know, he is one of your own people. He is a good Christian friend who serves Christ well. Onesimus and Tychicus will tell you everything that is happening here.
10 Aristarchus is also here with me in the prison. He says ‘hello’ to you. Barnabas's cousin, Mark also says ‘hello’ to you. I have already told you about him. So, if he comes to you, be kind to him. 11 Jesus, who is also called Justus, says ‘hello’ to you, too. These three men are the only Jewish believers who are serving God with me. We work together to bring people into the kingdom of God. These men have helped me to be strong.
12 Epaphras says ‘hello’ to you. He is also one of your people, and he is Jesus Christ's servant. He always prays very strongly for you. He prays that you will continue to grow as believers. He prays that you will completely understand everything that God wants you to do. 13 I can tell you this about Epaphras: He has worked very hard for you, and also for the people at Laodicea and at Hierapolis.
14 Our good friend Luke, the doctor, says ‘hello’ to you. Demas also says ‘hello’. 15 Say ‘hello’ for me to all the believers at Laodicea. Also say ‘hello’ to Nympha and to the group of believers that meet in her house.
16 After someone has read this letter to all of you, send it to the believers at Laodicea. Tell them to read it aloud to the church there. You must also read my letter that the believers at Laodicea will send to you.
17 Say to Archippus, ‘As you serve the Lord, be careful to finish the work that he gave you to do.’
18 I, Paul, am writing these words at the end of this letter with my own hand. Remember to pray for me while I am in prison. I pray that God will continue to be very kind to you.
4 Masters, give what is good and fair to your servants. Remember that you have a Master in heaven.
2 Never stop praying. Be ready for anything by praying and being thankful. 3 Also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message. I am in prison for doing this. But pray that we can continue to tell people the secret truth that God has made known about Christ. 4 Pray that I will say what is necessary to make this truth clear to everyone.
5 Be wise in the way you act with those who are not believers. Use your time in the best way you can. 6 When you talk, you should always be kind and wise. Then you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should.
7 Tychicus is my dear brother in Christ. He is a faithful helper and he serves the Lord with me. He will tell you everything that is happening with me. 8 That is why I am sending him. I want you to know how we are, and I am sending him to encourage you. 9 I am sending him with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother from your group. They will tell you everything that has happened here.
10 Aristarchus, the one here in prison with me, sends you his greetings. Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, also sends his greetings. (I have already told you what to do about Mark. If he comes, welcome him.) 11 And greetings from Jesus, the one who is also called Justus. These are the only Jewish believers who work with me for God’s kingdom. They have been a great comfort to me.
12 Epaphras, another servant of Jesus Christ from your group, sends his greetings. He constantly struggles for you in prayer. He prays that you will grow to be spiritually mature and have everything that God wants for you. 13 I know that he has worked hard for you and the people in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Greetings also from Demas and our dear friend Luke, the doctor.
15 Give our greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea. Greetings also to Nympha and to the church that meets in her house. 16 After this letter is read to you, be sure it is also read to the church in Laodicea. And you read the letter that I wrote to them. 17 Tell Archippus, “Be sure to do the work the Lord gave you.”
18 Here’s my greeting in my own handwriting— Paul . Remember me in prison. God’s grace be with you.
4 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
3 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 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
9 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 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, 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 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 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 beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
16 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 say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
4 Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, ( A ) knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
2 ( B ) Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 3 praying at the same time ( C ) for us as well, that God will open up to us a ( D ) door for ( E ) the word, so that we may proclaim ( F ) the mystery of Christ, for which I have also ( G ) been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear ( H ) in the way that I ought to proclaim it .
5 [ a ] ( I ) Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward ( J ) outsiders, [ b ] ( K ) making the most of the opportunity. 6 ( L ) Your speech must always be [ c ] with grace, as though seasoned with ( M ) salt, so that you will know how you should ( N ) respond to each person.
7 ( O ) As to all my affairs, ( P ) Tychicus, our ( Q ) beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. 8 ( R ) For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may ( S ) encourage your hearts; 9 [ d ] and with him is ( T ) Onesimus, our faithful and ( U ) beloved brother, ( V ) who is one of your own . They will inform you about the whole situation here.
10 ( W ) Aristarchus, my ( X ) fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also ( Y ) Barnabas’ cousin Mark (about whom you received [ e ] instructions; ( Z ) if he comes to you, welcome him); 11 and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only ( AA ) fellow workers for the kingdom of God ( AB ) who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. 12 ( AC ) Epaphras, ( AD ) who is one of your own , a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always ( AE ) striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may [ f ] stand [ g ] ( AF ) mature and [ h ] fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I testify for him that he has [ i ] a deep concern for you and for those who are in ( AG ) Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 ( AH ) Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and ( AI ) Demas does also . 15 Greet the brothers and sisters who are in ( AJ ) Laodicea and also [ j ] Nympha and ( AK ) the church that is in [ k ] her house. 16 ( AL ) When [ l ] this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part, ( AM ) read [ m ] my letter that is coming from ( AN ) Laodicea. 17 Tell ( AO ) Archippus, “See to the ( AP ) ministry which you have received in the Lord, so that you may [ n ] fulfill it.”
18 [ o ] I, Paul, ( AQ ) write this greeting with my own hand. ( AR ) Remember my [ p ] ( AS ) imprisonment. ( AT ) Grace be with you.
4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, ( A ) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, ( B ) being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door ( C ) for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery ( D ) of Christ, for which I am in chains. ( E ) 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise ( F ) in the way you act toward outsiders; ( G ) make the most of every opportunity. ( H ) 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, ( I ) seasoned with salt, ( J ) so that you may know how to answer everyone. ( K )
7 Tychicus ( L ) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant [ a ] ( M ) in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our [ b ] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. ( N ) 9 He is coming with Onesimus, ( O ) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. ( P ) They will tell you everything that is happening here.
10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus ( Q ) sends you his greetings, as does Mark, ( R ) the cousin of Barnabas. ( S ) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews [ c ] among my co-workers ( T ) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, ( U ) who is one of you ( V ) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, ( W ) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature ( X ) and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea ( Y ) and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke, ( Z ) the doctor, and Demas ( AA ) send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, ( AB ) and to Nympha and the church in her house. ( AC )
16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read ( AD ) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
17 Tell Archippus: ( AE ) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” ( AF )
18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. ( AG ) Remember ( AH ) my chains. ( AI ) Grace be with you. ( AJ )
