| New Living Translation | New International Version |
| 1Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven. An Encouragement for Prayer | 1Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. |
| 2Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. | 2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 4Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. | 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. |
| 5Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. | 5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. |
| 6Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Paul’s Final Instructions and Greetings | 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. |
| 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 will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. |
| 8I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. | 8I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and 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 coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening 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. | 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.) |
| 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! | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 13I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis. | 13I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. |
| 14Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. | 14Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. |
| 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 and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 17And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.” | 17Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord." |
| 18 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul . Remember my chains. May God’s grace be with you. | 18I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. 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. | 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. |
|
