Colossians 3
Paul instructs believers to set their affection on things above, to put to death the earthly members — fornication, uncleanness, evil desire, and covetousness — and to put on the new man renewed in knowledge after the image of Him who created him. He gives instructions for husbands and wives, parents and children, and servants and masters, teaching that whatever they do, they should do it heartily as to the Lord.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. | Since, then, You have been raised with Christ, set Your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. |
| 2 | Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. | Set Your minds on things above, not on earthly things. |
| 3 | For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. | For You died, and Your life is now hidden with Christ in God. |
| 4 | When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. | When Christ, Who is Your life, appears, then You also will 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: | Mortify therefore Your members which are on 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: | Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. |
| 7 | In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. | You used to walk in these ways, in the life You once lived. |
| 8 | But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. | But now You 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; | Do not lie to each other, since You have taken off Your old self with its practices |
| 10 | And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: | and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. |
| 11 | Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. | Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. |
| 12 | Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; | Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and 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. | Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of You has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. |
| 14 | And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. | And over all these virtues put on charity, which binds them all together in perfect unity. |
| 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. | Let the peace of Christ rule in Your hearts, since as members of one body You were called to peace. And be 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. | Let the message of Christ dwell among You richly as You teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in Your hearts. |
| 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. | And whatever You do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. |
| 18 | Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. | Wives, submit yourselves to Your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. |
| 19 | Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. | Husbands, love Your wives and do not be harsh with them. |
| 20 | Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. | Children, obey Your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. |
| 21 | Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. | Fathers, do not embitter Your children, or they will become 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: | Slaves, obey Your earthly masters in everything. Do it not only when they are watching — not to win their favor — but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. |
| 23 | And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; | Whatever You do, work at it with all Your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, |
| 24 | Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. | since You know that You will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ You are serving. |
| 25 | But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. | Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrong, and there is no favoritism. |