| New International Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. | 1Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven. |
| 2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. | 2Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; |
| 3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. | 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; |
| 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. | 4that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. |
| 5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. | 5Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. |
| 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. | 6Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. |
| 7Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. | 7As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. |
| 8I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. | 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; |
| 9He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here. | 9and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here. |
| 10My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) | 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); |
| 11Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. | 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. |
| 12Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. | 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. |
| 13I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. | 13For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. |
| 14Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. | 14Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas. |
| 15Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. | 15Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. |
| 16After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. | 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. |
| 17Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord." | 17Say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it." |
| 18I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. | 18I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | 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 |
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