| New Living Translation | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven. An Encouragement for Prayer | 1Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven. |
| 2Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. | 2Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. |
| 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. | 3At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah, for which I am in prison, |
| 4Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. | 4so that I may reveal it as I am required to speak. |
| 5Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. | 5Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. |
| 6Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Paul’s Final Instructions and Greetings | 6Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person. |
| 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. | 7Tychicus, our dearly loved brother, faithful servant, and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. |
| 8I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. | 8I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and so that he may encourage your hearts. |
| 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. | 9He is with Onesimus, a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here. |
| 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. | 10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, as does Mark, Barnabas's cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), |
| 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! | 11and so does Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcision are my coworkers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. |
| 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. | 12Epaphras, who is one of you, a slave of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always contending for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills. |
| 13I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis. | 13For I testify about him that he works hard for you, for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. |
| 14Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. | 14Luke, the dearly loved physician, and Demas greet you. |
| 15Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. | 15Give my greetings to the brothers in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her home. |
| 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. | 16When this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. |
| 17And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.” | 17And tell Archippus, "Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it." |
| 18 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul . Remember my chains. May God’s grace be with you. | 18This greeting is in my own hand--Paul. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you. |
| 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. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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