Colossians

The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians, chapter 3, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 3 New English Translation

Exhortations to Seek the Things Above

   1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him. 5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. 7 You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. 8 But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 10 and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.

Exhortation to Unity and Love

   12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the LORD has forgiven you, so you also forgive others. 14 And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond. 15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the LORD Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Exhortation to Households

   18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the LORD. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the LORD. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become disheartened. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching - like those who are strictly people-pleasers - but with a sincere heart, fearing the LORD. 23 Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the LORD and not for people, 24 because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the LORD as the reward. Serve the LORD Christ.
   25 For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there are no exceptions.

King James Version

   1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
   2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
   3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
   4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
   5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
   6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
   7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
   8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
   9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
   10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
   11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
   12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
   13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
   14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
   15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
   16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
   17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
   18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
   19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
   20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
   21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
   22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
   23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
   24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
   25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.