Colossians 3

1 Therefore, if you have risen together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.2 Consider the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth.3 For you have died, and so your life is hidden with Christ in God.4 When Christ, your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.5 Therefore, mortify your body, while it is upon the earth. For because of fornication, impurity, lust, evil desires, and avarice, which are a kind of service to idols,6 the wrath of God has overwhelmed the sons of unbelief.7 You, too, walked in these things, in times past, when you were living among them.8 But now you must set aside all these things: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, and indecent speech from your mouth.9 Do not lie to one another. Strip yourselves of the old man, with his deeds,10 and clothe yourself with the new man, who has been renewed by knowledge, in accord with the image of the One who created him,11 where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, servant nor free. Instead, Christ is everything, in everyone.12 Therefore, clothe yourselves like the elect of God: holy and beloved, with hearts of mercy, kindness, humility, modesty, and patience.13 Support one another, and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive one another. For just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also must you do.14 And above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.15 And let the peace of Christ lift up your hearts. For in this peace, you have been called, as one body. And be thankful.16 Let the word of Christ live in you in abundance, with all wisdom, teaching and correcting one another, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing to God with the grace in your hearts.17 Let everything whatsoever that you do, whether in word or in deed, be done all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him.18 Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord.19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter toward them.20 Children, obey your parents in all things. For this is well-pleasing to the Lord.21 Fathers, do not provoke your children to indignation, lest they lose heart.22 Servants, obey, in all things, your lords according to the flesh, not serving only when seen, as if to please men, but serving in simplicity of heart, fearing God.23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as for the Lord, and not for men.24 For you know that you will receive from the Lord the repayment of an inheritance. Serve Christ the Lord.25 For whoever causes injury shall be repaid for what he has wrongfully done. And there no favoritism with God.

Colossians 3

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 yours 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:t sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion,t evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.ss7 You also lived your livest in this way at one time, when you used to live among them.8 But now, put off all such thingst 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 practices10 and have been clothed with the new mans 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, slavet 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,t kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,13 bearing with one another and forgivingt one another, if someone happens to havet a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.t14 And to all theset virtuest addt love, which is the perfect bond.t15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one bodyt to this peace), and be thankful.16 Let the word of Christs dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with gracet 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.
18 Wives, submit to yourt 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,t do not provoket your children, so they will not become disheartened.22 Slaves,t obey your earthlyt 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,t work at it with enthusiasm,t as to the Lord and not for people,t24 because you know that you will receive yourt inheritancet from the Lord as the reward. Servet the Lord Christ.25 For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong,ts and there are no exceptions.t