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Colossians 4:1–4

Masters, treat your bondservants1 justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

cContinue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it dwith thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may eopen to us a door for the word, fto declare the mystery of Christ, gon account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

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Colossians 4:1–4 — The New International Version (NIV)

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Colossians 4:1–4 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Colossians 4:1–4 — New Living Translation (NLT)

Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.

Colossians 4:1–4 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Colossians 4:1–4 — New Century Version (NCV)

Masters, give what is good and fair to your slaves. Remember that you have a Master in heaven.

Continue praying, keeping alert, and always thanking God. Also pray for us that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message. Pray that we can preach the secret that God has made known about Christ. This is why I am in prison. Pray that I can speak in a way that will make it clear, as I should.

Colossians 4:1–4 — American Standard Version (ASV)

Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Colossians 4:1–4 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

Masters, give to bondmen what is just and fair, knowing that ye also have a Master in the heavens.

Persevere in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us also, that God may open to us a door of the word to speak the mystery of Christ, on account of which also I am bound, to the end that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak.

Colossians 4:1–4 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Masters, be just and fair to your slaves because you know that you also have a master in heaven. 

Keep praying. Pay attention when you offer prayers of thanksgiving. At the same time also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to speak the word so that we may tell the mystery about Christ. It is because of this mystery that I am a prisoner. Pray that I may make this mystery as clear as possible. This is what I have to do. 

Colossians 4:1–4 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.

Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it as I am required to speak.

Colossians 4:1–4 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.

Colossians 4:1–4 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you also have a master in heaven.

Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving, praying at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door of the message, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also I am a prisoner, so that I may reveal it, as it is necessary for me to speak.

Colossians 4:1–4 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

Masters, give your slaves what is right and fair. Do it because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Spend a lot of time in prayer. Always be watchful and thankful.

Pray for us too. Pray that God will open a door for our message. Then we can preach the mystery of Christ. Because I preached it, I am being held by chains. Pray that I will preach it clearly, as I should.

Colossians 4:1–4 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;

praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;

that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.


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