Colossians 4

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Masters, make sure that your slaves are given what is upright and fair, knowing that you too have aMaster in heaven.	1 Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, realizing that you too have a Master in heaven.
2 Be persevering in your prayers and be thankful as you stay awake to pray.	2 Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving;
3 Pray for us especial y, asking God to throw open a door for us to announce the message and proclaimthe mystery of Christ, for the sake of which I am in chains;	3 at the same time, pray for us, too, that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak of the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison,
4 pray that I may proclaim it as clearly as I ought.	4 that I may make it clear, as I must speak.
5 Act wisely with outsiders, making the best of the present time.	5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
6 Always talk pleasantly and with a flavour of wit but be sensitive to the kind of answer each one requires.	6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you know how you should respond to each one.
7 Tychicus will tel you al the news about me. He is a very dear brother, and a trustworthy helper andcompanion in the service of the Lord.	7 Tychicus, my beloved brother, trustworthy minister, and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news of me.
8 I am sending him to you precisely for this purpose: to give you news about us and to encourage youthoroughly.	8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us and that he may encourage your hearts,
9 With him I am sending Onesimus, that dear and trustworthy brother who is a fel ow-citizen of yours.They wil tell you everything that is happening here.	9 together with Onesimus, a trustworthy and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
10 Aristarchus, who is here in prison with me, sends his greetings, and so does Mark, the cousin ofBarnabas -- you were sent some instructions about him; if he comes to you, give him a warm welcome-	10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions; if he comes to you, receive him),
11 and Jesus Justus adds his greetings. Of al those who have come over from the circumcision, theseare the only ones actually working with me for the kingdom of God. They have been a great comfort to me.	11 and Jesus, who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision; these alone are my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
12 Epaphras, your fel ow-citizen, sends his greetings; this servant of Christ Jesus never stops battling foryou, praying that you will never lapse but always hold perfectly and securely to the wil of God.	12 Epaphras sends you greetings; he is one of you, a slave of Christ (Jesus), always striving for you in his prayers so that you may be perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.
13 I can testify for him that he works hard for you, as wel as for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.	13 For I can testify that he works very hard for you and for those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.
14 Greetings from my dear friend Luke, the doctor, and also from Demas.	14 Luke the beloved physician sends greetings, as does Demas.
15 Please give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea and to Nympha and the church which meets inher house.	15 Give greetings to the brothers in Laodicea and to Nympha and to the church in her house.
16 After this letter has been read among you, send it on to be read in the church of the Laodiceans; andget the letter from Laodicea for you to read yourselves.	16 And when this letter is read before you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and you yourselves read the one from Laodicea.
17 Give Archippus this message, 'Remember the service that the Lord assigned to you, and try to carry itout.'	17 And tell Archippus, "See that you fulfill the ministry that you received in the Lord."
18 This greeting is in my own hand-PAUL. Remember the chains I wear. Grace be with you.	18 The greeting is in my own hand, Paul's. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.