Lettera ai Colossesi 1

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Paulus, apostolus Christi Iesu per voluntatem Dei, et Timo theus frater	1 From Paul, by the wil of God an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy
2 his, qui sunt Colossis, sanctis et fidelibus fratribus in Christo: gratia vobiset pax a Deo Patre nostro.	2 to God's holy people in Colossae, our faithful brothers in Christ. Grace and peace to you from God ourFather.
3 Gratias agimus Deo Patri Domini nostri Iesu Christi semper pro vobis orantes,	3 We give thanks for you to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, continual y in our prayers,
4 audientes fidem vestram in Christo Iesu et dilectionem, quam habetis insanctos omnes,	4 ever since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you show towards all God's holypeople
5 propter spem, quae reposita est vobis in caelis, quam anteaudistis in verbo veritatis evangelii,	5 because of the hope which is stored up for you in heaven. News of this hope reached you not long agothrough the word of truth, the gospel
6 quod pervenit ad vos, sicut et inuniverso mundo est fructificans et crescens, sicut et in vobis, ex ea die, quaaudistis et cognovistis gratiam Dei in veritate;	6 that came to you in the same way as it is bearing fruit and growing throughout the world. It has had thesame effect among you, ever since you heard about the grace of God and recognised it for what it truly is.
7 sicut didicistis ab Epaphracarissimo conservo nostro, qui est fidelis pro nobis minister Christi,	7 This you learnt from Epaphras, our very dear fel ow-worker and a trustworthy deputy for us as Christ'sservant,
8 quietiam manifestavit nobis dilectionem vestram in Spiritu.	8 and it was he who also told us all about your love in the Spirit.
9 Ideo et nos, ex qua die audivimus, non cessamus pro vobis orantes etpostulantes, ut impleamini agnitione voluntatis eius in omni sapientia etintellectu spiritali,	9 That is why, ever since the day he told us, we have never failed to remember you in our prayers and askthat through perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding you should reach the ful est knowledge of his will
10 ut ambuletis digne Domino per omnia placentes, in omniopere bono fructificantes et crescentes in scientia Dei,	10 and so be able to lead a life worthy of the Lord, a life acceptable to him in all its aspects, bearing fruit in every kind of good work and growing in knowledge of God,
11 in omni virtuteconfortati secundum potentiam claritatis eius in omnem patientiam etlonganimitatem, cum gaudio	11 fortified, in accordance with his glorious strength, with al power always to persevere and endure,
12 gratias agentes Patri, qui idoneos vos fecit in partem sortis sanctorum in lumine;	12 giving thanks with joy to the Father who has made you able to share the lot of God's holy people andwith them to inherit the light.
13 qui eripuit nos de potestate tenebrarum et transtulit in regnum Filii dilectionis suae,	13 Because that is what he has done. It is he who has rescued us from the ruling force of darkness andtransferred us to the kingdom of the Son that he loves,
14 in quo habemus redemptionem, remissionem peccatorum;	14 and in him we enjoy our freedom, the forgiveness of sin.
15 qui est imago Dei invisibilis, primogenitus omnis creaturae,	15 He is the image of the unseen God, the first-born of al creation,
16 quia in ipso condita sunt universa in caelis et in terra, visibilia et invisibilia, sive throni sive dominationes sive principatus sive potestates. Omnia per ipsum et in ipsum creata sunt,	16 for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth: everything visible and everything invisible,thrones, ruling forces, sovereignties, powers -- al things were created through him and for him.
17 et ipse est ante omnia, et omnia in ipso constant.	17 He exists before al things and in him al things hold together,
18 Et ipse est caput corporis ecclesiae; qui est principium, primogenitus ex mortuis, ut sit in omnibus ipse primatum tenens,	18 and he is the Head of the Body, that is, the Church. He is the Beginning, the first-born from the dead,so that he should be supreme in every way;
19 quia in ipso complacuit omnem plenitudinem habitare	19 because God wanted al ful ness to be found in him
20 et per eum reconciliare omnia in ipsum, pacificans per sanguinem crucis eius, sive quae in terris sive quae in caelis sunt.	20 and through him to reconcile al things to him, everything in heaven and everything on earth, by makingpeace through his death on the cross.
21 Et vos, cum essetis aliquando alienati et inimici sensu in operibus malis,	21 You were once estranged and of hostile intent through your evil behaviour;
22 nunc autem reconciliavit in corpore carnis eius per mortem exhibere vos sanctoset immaculatos et irreprehensibiles coram ipso;	22 now he has reconciled you, by his death and in that mortal body, to bring you before himself holy,faultless and irreproachable-
23 si tamen permanetis in fidefundati et stabiles et immobiles a spe evangelii, quod audistis, quodpraedicatum est in universa creatura, quae sub caelo est, cuius factus sum egoPaulus minister.	23 as long as you persevere and stand firm on the solid base of the faith, never letting yourselves driftaway from the hope promised by the gospel, which you have heard, which has been preached to every creatureunder heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become the servant.
24 Nunc gaudeo in passionibus pro vobis et adimpleo, ea quae desunt passionumChristi in carne mea pro corpore eius, quod est ecclesia,	24 It makes me happy to be suffering for you now, and in my own body to make up all the hardships thatstill have to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church,
25 cuius factus sumego minister secundum dispensationem Dei, quae data est mihi in vos, ut impleamverbum Dei;	25 of which I was made a servant with the responsibility towards you that God gave to me, that ofcompleting God's message,
26 mysterium, quod absconditum fuit a saeculis et generationibus,nunc autem manifestatum est sanctis eius,	26 the message which was a mystery hidden for generations and centuries and has now been revealed tohis holy people.
27 quibus voluit Deus notas faceredivitias gloriae mysterii huius in gentibus, quod est Christus in vobis, spesgloriae;	27 It was God's purpose to reveal to them how rich is the glory of this mystery among the gentiles; it isChrist among you, your hope of glory:
28 quem nos annuntiamus, commonentes omnem hominem et docentes omnemhominem in omni sapientia, ut exhibeamus omnem hominem perfectum in Christo;	28 this is the Christ we are proclaiming, admonishing and instructing everyone in all wisdom, to makeeveryone perfect in Christ.
29 ad quod et laboro certando secundum operationem eius, quae operatur in me invirtute.	29 And it is for this reason that I labour, striving with his energy which works in me mightily.