Laws for Purification

19 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “This is the statute of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish, (A)and on which a yoke has never come. And you shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and (B)it shall be taken outside the camp and slaughtered before him. And Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and (C)sprinkle some of its blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times. And the heifer shall be burned in his sight. (D)Its skin, its flesh, and its blood, with its dung, shall be burned. And the priest shall take (E)cedarwood and hyssop and scarlet yarn, and throw them into the fire burning the heifer. Then the priest (F)shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. But the priest shall be unclean until evening. (G)The one who burns the heifer (H)shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his body in water and shall be unclean until evening. And a man who is clean shall gather up (I)the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a (J)clean place. And they shall be kept for the water for (K)impurity for the congregation of the people of Israel; it is a sin offering. 10 And the one who gathers the ashes of the heifer (L)shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. And this shall be a perpetual statute for the people of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them.

11 (M)“Whoever touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean seven days. 12 He (N)shall cleanse himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and so be clean. But if he does not cleanse himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not become clean. 13 Whoever touches a dead person, the body of anyone who has died, and does not cleanse himself, (O)defiles the tabernacle of the Lord, (P)and that person shall be cut off from Israel; because the water for impurity was not thrown on him, he shall be unclean. His uncleanness is still on him.

14 “This is the law when someone dies in a tent: everyone who comes into the tent and everyone who is in the tent shall be unclean seven days. 15 And every (Q)open vessel that has no cover fastened on it is unclean. 16 (R)Whoever in the open field touches someone who was killed with a sword or who died naturally, or touches a human bone or a (S)grave, shall be unclean seven days. 17 For the unclean they shall take (T)some ashes of the burnt sin offering, and fresh[a] water shall be added in a vessel. 18 Then a clean person shall take (U)hyssop and dip it in the water and sprinkle it on the tent and on all the furnishings and on the persons who were there and on whoever touched the bone, or the slain or the dead or the grave. 19 And the clean person shall sprinkle it on the unclean (V)on the third day and on the seventh day. (W)Thus on the seventh day he shall cleanse him, and he shall (X)wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and at evening he shall be clean.

20 “If the man who is unclean does not cleanse himself, (Y)that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, since he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. Because the water for impurity has not been thrown on him, he is unclean. 21 And it shall be a statute forever for them. The one who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and the one who touches the water for impurity shall be unclean until evening. 22 And (Z)whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean, and anyone who touches it shall be unclean until evening.”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 19:17 Hebrew living

The Water of Cleansing

19 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “This is a requirement of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer(A) without defect or blemish(B) and that has never been under a yoke.(C) Give it to Eleazar(D) the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp(E) and slaughtered in his presence. Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle(F) it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting. While he watches, the heifer is to be burned—its hide, flesh, blood and intestines.(G) The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop(H) and scarlet wool(I) and throw them onto the burning heifer. After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water.(J) He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening. The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening.

“A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer(K) and put them in a ceremonially clean place(L) outside the camp. They are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing;(M) it is for purification from sin.(N) 10 The man who gathers up(O) the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he too will be unclean till evening.(P) This will be a lasting ordinance(Q) both for the Israelites and for the foreigners residing among them.(R)

11 “Whoever touches a human corpse(S) will be unclean for seven days.(T) 12 They must purify themselves with the water on the third day and on the seventh day;(U) then they will be clean. But if they do not purify themselves on the third and seventh days, they will not be clean.(V) 13 If they fail to purify themselves after touching a human corpse,(W) they defile the Lord’s tabernacle.(X) They must be cut off from Israel.(Y) Because the water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, they are unclean;(Z) their uncleanness remains on them.

14 “This is the law that applies when a person dies in a tent: Anyone who enters the tent and anyone who is in it will be unclean for seven days, 15 and every open container(AA) without a lid fastened on it will be unclean.

16 “Anyone out in the open who touches someone who has been killed with a sword or someone who has died a natural death,(AB) or anyone who touches a human bone(AC) or a grave,(AD) will be unclean for seven days.(AE)

17 “For the unclean person, put some ashes(AF) from the burned purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water(AG) over them. 18 Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop,(AH) dip it in the water and sprinkle(AI) the tent and all the furnishings and the people who were there. He must also sprinkle anyone who has touched a human bone or a grave(AJ) or anyone who has been killed or anyone who has died a natural death. 19 The man who is clean is to sprinkle(AK) those who are unclean on the third and seventh days, and on the seventh day he is to purify them.(AL) Those who are being cleansed must wash their clothes(AM) and bathe with water, and that evening they will be clean. 20 But if those who are unclean do not purify themselves, they must be cut off from the community, because they have defiled(AN) the sanctuary of the Lord.(AO) The water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, and they are unclean.(AP) 21 This is a lasting ordinance(AQ) for them.

“The man who sprinkles the water of cleansing must also wash his clothes, and anyone who touches the water of cleansing will be unclean till evening. 22 Anything that an unclean(AR) person touches becomes unclean, and anyone who touches it becomes unclean till evening.”

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David Organizes the Levites

23 (A)When David was old and full of days, (B)he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

David[a] assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites. The Levites, (C)thirty years old and upward, were numbered, and (D)the total was (E)38,000 men. “Twenty-four thousand of these,” David said,[b] (F)“shall have charge of the work in the house of the Lord, 6,000 shall be (G)officers and judges, 4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the Lord with the instruments (H)that I have made for praise.” (I)And David organized them in divisions (J)corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

(K)The sons of Gershon[c] were Ladan and Shimei. The sons of Ladan: (L)Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three. The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers' houses of Ladan. 10 And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. 11 Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, therefore they became counted as a single father's house.

12 (M)The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. 13 (N)The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. (O)Aaron was set apart to dedicate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever should (P)make offerings before the Lord and (Q)minister to him and (R)pronounce blessings in his name forever. 14 But the sons of Moses the (S)man of God were named among the (T)tribe of Levi. 15 The (U)sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. 16 The sons of Gershom: (V)Shebuel the chief. 17 The sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. 18 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. 19 The (W)sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20 (X)The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief and Isshiah the second.

21 (Y)The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and (Z)Kish. 22 Eleazar died (AA)having no sons, but only daughters; their (AB)kinsmen, the sons of Kish, married them. 23 (AC)The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 (AD)These were the sons of Levi by their fathers' houses, the heads of fathers' houses (AE)as they were listed according to the number of the names of the individuals from (AF)twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the Lord. 25 For David said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, (AG)has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26 And so the Levites no longer need (AH)to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service.” 27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from (AI)twenty years old and upward. 28 For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God. 29 Their duty was also to assist with the (AJ)showbread, the (AK)flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the (AL)baked offering, the (AM)offering mixed with oil, and all (AN)measures of quantity or size. 30 And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the Lord, and likewise at evening, 31 and whenever burnt offerings were offered to the Lord (AO)on Sabbaths, (AP)new moons, and feast days, (AQ)according to the number required of them, regularly before the Lord. 32 Thus (AR)they were to keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary, and to attend the sons of Aaron, their brothers, for the (AS)service of the house of the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 23:2 Hebrew He
  2. 1 Chronicles 23:4 Hebrew lacks David said
  3. 1 Chronicles 23:7 Vulgate (compare Septuagint, Syriac); Hebrew to the Gershonite

The Levites

23 When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon(A) king over Israel.(B)

He also gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites. The Levites thirty years old or more(C) were counted,(D) and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand.(E) David said, “Of these, twenty-four thousand are to be in charge(F) of the work(G) of the temple of the Lord and six thousand are to be officials and judges.(H) Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the Lord with the musical instruments(I) I have provided for that purpose.”(J)

David separated(K) the Levites into divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi:(L) Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

Gershonites

Belonging to the Gershonites:(M)

Ladan and Shimei.

The sons of Ladan:

Jehiel the first, Zetham and Joel—three in all.

The sons of Shimei:

Shelomoth, Haziel and Haran—three in all.

These were the heads of the families of Ladan.

10 And the sons of Shimei:

Jahath, Ziza,[a] Jeush and Beriah.

These were the sons of Shimei—four in all.

11 Jahath was the first and Ziza the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons; so they were counted as one family with one assignment.

Kohathites

12 The sons of Kohath:(N)

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel—four in all.

13 The sons of Amram:(O)

Aaron and Moses.

Aaron was set apart,(P) he and his descendants forever, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before the Lord, to minister(Q) before him and to pronounce blessings(R) in his name forever. 14 The sons of Moses the man(S) of God were counted as part of the tribe of Levi.

15 The sons of Moses:

Gershom and Eliezer.(T)

16 The descendants of Gershom:(U)

Shubael was the first.

17 The descendants of Eliezer:

Rehabiah(V) was the first.

Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.

18 The sons of Izhar:

Shelomith(W) was the first.

19 The sons of Hebron:(X)

Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.

20 The sons of Uzziel:

Micah the first and Ishiah the second.

Merarites

21 The sons of Merari:(Y)

Mahli and Mushi.(Z)

The sons of Mahli:

Eleazar and Kish.

22 Eleazar died without having sons: he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.(AA)

23 The sons of Mushi:

Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth—three in all.

24 These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families as they were registered under their names and counted individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more(AB) who served in the temple of the Lord. 25 For David had said, “Since the Lord, the God of Israel, has granted rest(AC) to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever, 26 the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service.”(AD) 27 According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more.

28 The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the temple of the Lord: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification(AE) of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the house of God. 29 They were in charge of the bread set out on the table,(AF) the special flour for the grain offerings,(AG) the thin loaves made without yeast, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.(AH) 30 They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. They were to do the same in the evening(AI) 31 and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the Lord on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon(AJ) feasts and at the appointed festivals.(AK) They were to serve before the Lord regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them.

32 And so the Levites(AL) carried out their responsibilities for the tent of meeting,(AM) for the Holy Place and, under their relatives the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the temple of the Lord.(AN)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 23:10 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint and Vulgate (see also verse 11); most Hebrew manuscripts Zina

(A)“When the people of the land (B)come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the south gate, and he who enters by the south gate shall go out by the north gate: no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered, but each shall go out straight ahead. 10 When they enter, (C)the prince shall enter with them, and when they go out, he shall go out.

11 “At the feasts and the appointed festivals, (D)the grain offering with a young bull shall be an ephah, and with a ram an ephah, and with the lambs (E)as much as one is able to give, together with a hin of oil to an ephah. 12 When the prince provides (F)a freewill offering, either a burnt offering or peace offerings as a freewill offering to the Lord, (G)the gate facing east shall be opened for him. And he shall offer his burnt offering or his peace offerings (H)as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he has gone out the gate shall be shut.

13 (I)“You shall provide a lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt offering to the Lord daily; morning by morning you shall provide it. 14 And (J)you shall provide a grain offering with it morning by morning, one sixth of an ephah, and one third of a hin of oil to moisten the flour, as a grain offering to the Lord. This is a perpetual statute. 15 Thus the lamb and the meal offering and the oil shall be provided, morning by morning, for (K)a regular burnt offering.

16 “Thus says the Lord God: If the prince makes a gift to any of his sons as his inheritance, it shall belong to his sons. It is their property by inheritance. 17 But if he makes a gift (L)out of his inheritance to one of his servants, it shall be his to (M)the year of liberty. Then it shall revert to the prince; surely it is his inheritance—it shall belong to his sons. 18 (N)The prince shall not take any of the inheritance of the people, (O)thrusting them out of their property. He shall give his sons their inheritance out of his own property, so that none of my people shall be (P)scattered from his property.”

Boiling Places for Offerings

19 Then he brought me through the entrance, which was (Q)at the side of the gate, to the north row of (R)the holy chambers for the priests, and behold, a place was there at the extreme western end of them. 20 And he said to me, “This is the place where the priests (S)shall boil the guilt offering and the sin offering, and where (T)they shall bake the grain offering, in order not to bring them out into the outer court and so (U)transmit holiness to the people.”

21 Then he brought me out to the outer court and led me around to the four corners of the court. And behold, in each corner of the court there was another court— 22 in the four corners of the court were small[a] courts, forty cubits[b] long and thirty broad; the four were of the same size. 23 On the inside, around each of the four courts was a row of masonry, with hearths made at the bottom of the rows all around. 24 Then he said to me, “These are the kitchens where those who (V)minister at the temple (W)shall boil the sacrifices of the people.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 46:22 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
  2. Ezekiel 46:22 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters

“‘When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed festivals,(A) whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which they entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate. 10 The prince is to be among them, going in when they go in and going out when they go out.(B) 11 At the feasts and the appointed festivals, the grain offering is to be an ephah with a bull, an ephah with a ram, and with the lambs as much as he pleases, along with a hin of oil for each ephah.(C)

12 “‘When the prince provides(D) a freewill offering(E) to the Lord—whether a burnt offering or fellowship offerings—the gate facing east is to be opened for him. He shall offer his burnt offering or his fellowship offerings as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he has gone out, the gate will be shut.(F)

13 “‘Every day you are to provide a year-old lamb without defect for a burnt offering to the Lord; morning by morning(G) you shall provide it.(H) 14 You are also to provide with it morning by morning a grain offering, consisting of a sixth of an ephah[a] with a third of a hin[b] of oil(I) to moisten the flour. The presenting of this grain offering to the Lord is a lasting ordinance.(J) 15 So the lamb and the grain offering and the oil shall be provided morning by morning for a regular(K) burnt offering.(L)

16 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: If the prince makes a gift from his inheritance to one of his sons, it will also belong to his descendants; it is to be their property by inheritance.(M) 17 If, however, he makes a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, the servant may keep it until the year of freedom;(N) then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs to his sons only; it is theirs. 18 The prince must not take(O) any of the inheritance(P) of the people, driving them off their property. He is to give his sons their inheritance out of his own property, so that not one of my people will be separated from their property.’”

19 Then the man brought me through the entrance(Q) at the side of the gate to the sacred rooms facing north,(R) which belonged to the priests, and showed me a place at the western end. 20 He said to me, “This is the place where the priests are to cook the guilt offering and the sin offering[c] and bake the grain offering, to avoid bringing them into the outer court and consecrating(S) the people.”(T)

21 He then brought me to the outer court and led me around to its four corners, and I saw in each corner another court. 22 In the four corners of the outer court were enclosed[d] courts, forty cubits long and thirty cubits wide;[e] each of the courts in the four corners was the same size. 23 Around the inside of each of the four courts was a ledge of stone, with places for fire built all around under the ledge. 24 He said to me, “These are the kitchens where those who minister at the temple are to cook the sacrifices of the people.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 46:14 That is, probably about 6 pounds or about 2.7 kilograms
  2. Ezekiel 46:14 That is, about 1 1/2 quarts or about 1.3 liters
  3. Ezekiel 46:20 Or purification offering
  4. Ezekiel 46:22 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  5. Ezekiel 46:22 That is, about 70 feet long and 53 feet wide or about 21 meters long and 16 meters wide

Put Not Your Trust in Princes

146 (A)Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord (B)as long as I live;
    (C)I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

(D)Put not your trust in princes,
    (E)in a son of man, in whom there is (F)no salvation.
When (G)his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
    on that very day his plans perish.

(H)Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose (I)hope is in the Lord his God,
(J)who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them,
(K)who keeps faith forever;
    (L)who executes justice for the oppressed,
    (M)who gives food to the hungry.

(N)The Lord sets the prisoners free;
    (O)the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
(P)The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    (Q)the Lord loves the righteous.
(R)The Lord watches over the sojourners;
    (S)he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
    but (T)the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10 (U)The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, to all generations.
(V)Praise the Lord!

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Psalm 146

Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise the Lord,(A) my soul.

I will praise the Lord all my life;(B)
    I will sing praise(C) to my God as long as I live.(D)
Do not put your trust in princes,(E)
    in human beings,(F) who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;(G)
    on that very day their plans come to nothing.(H)
Blessed are those(I) whose help(J) is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

He is the Maker of heaven(K) and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful(L) forever.
He upholds(M) the cause of the oppressed(N)
    and gives food to the hungry.(O)
The Lord sets prisoners free,(P)
    the Lord gives sight(Q) to the blind,(R)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,(S)
    the Lord loves the righteous.(T)
The Lord watches over the foreigner(U)
    and sustains the fatherless(V) and the widow,(W)
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns(X) forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 146:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 10

Peter Denies Jesus

54 (A)Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, (B)and Peter was following at a distance. 55 (C)And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of (D)the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another (E)insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and (F)looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, (G)“Before the rooster crows today, you will (H)deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

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Peter Disowns Jesus(A)

54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest.(B) Peter followed at a distance.(C) 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”(D)

60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord(E) turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”(F) 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

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Final Greetings

Tychicus will tell you (A)all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant[a] in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him (B)Onesimus, our faithful and (C)beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

10 (D)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark (E)the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—(F)if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called (G)Justus. (H)These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and (I)they have been a comfort to me. 12 (J)Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always (K)struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand (L)mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 (M)Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does (N)Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers[b] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and (O)the church in her house. 16 And when (P)this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to (Q)Archippus, “See that you fulfill (R)the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

18 I, Paul, (S)write this greeting with my own hand. (T)Remember (U)my chains. (V)Grace be with you.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 4:7 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word sundoulos, see Preface
  2. Colossians 4:15 Or brothers and sisters

Final Greetings

Tychicus(A) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant[a](B) in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our[b] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.(C) He is coming with Onesimus,(D) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.(E) They will tell you everything that is happening here.

10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus(F) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,(G) the cousin of Barnabas.(H) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews[c] among my co-workers(I) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras,(J) who is one of you(K) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,(L) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature(M) and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea(N) and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke,(O) the doctor, and Demas(P) send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,(Q) and to Nympha and the church in her house.(R)

16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read(S) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Tell Archippus:(T) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”(U)

18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.(V) Remember(W) my chains.(X) Grace be with you.(Y)

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 4:7 Or slave; also in verse 12
  2. Colossians 4:8 Some manuscripts that he may know about your
  3. Colossians 4:11 Greek only ones of the circumcision group