Colossians 3:8-4:6

New American Standard Bible

⁸ But now you also, ^(A)rid yourselves of all of them: ^(B)anger, wrath, malice, slander, and ^(C)obscene speech from your mouth. ^9 [a](D)Do not lie to one another, since you ^(E)stripped off the old ^[b]self with its evil practices, ¹⁰ and have ^(F)put on the new self, which is being ^[c](G)renewed to a true knowledge ^(H)according to the image of the One who ^(I)created it— ¹¹ a renewal in which ^(J)there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, ^(K)circumcised and uncircumcised, ^[d](L)barbarian, ^[e]Scythian, ^(M)slave, and free, but ^(N)Christ is all, and in all.

¹² So, as those who have been ^(O)chosen of God, holy and beloved, ^(P)put on a ^(Q)heart of compassion, kindness, ^(R)humility, gentleness, and ^[f](S)patience; ^13 (T)bearing with one another, and ^(U)forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; ^(V)just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. ¹⁴ In addition to all these things put on love, which is ^[g](W)the perfect bond of ^(X)unity. ¹⁵ Let ^(Y)the peace of Christ, to which you were ^[h]indeed called in ^(Z)one body, ^[i]rule in your hearts; and ^[j]be thankful. ¹⁶ Let ^(AA)the word of ^[k]Christ richly dwell within you, ^[l]with all wisdom ^(AB)teaching and admonishing ^[m]one another ^(AC)with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, ^(AD)singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ^17 (AE)Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, ^(AF)giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Family Relations

^18 (AG)Wives, ^(AH)be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ^19 (AI)Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them. ^20 (AJ)Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing ^[n]to the Lord. ^21 (AK)Fathers, do not ^[o]antagonize your children, so that they will not become discouraged.

^22 [p](AL)Slaves, obey those who are your ^[q]human masters in everything, ^(AM)not with ^[r]eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, do your work ^[s]heartily, ^(AN)as for the Lord and not for people, ^24 (AO)knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward ^[t]of ^(AP)the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you ^(AQ)serve. ²⁵ For ^(AR)the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and ^[u](AS)that without partiality.

4 Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, ^(AT)knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

^2 (AU)Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; ³ praying at the same time ^(AV)for us as well, that God will open up to us a ^(AW)door for ^(AX)the word, so that we may proclaim ^(AY)the mystery of Christ, for which I have also ^(AZ)been imprisoned; ⁴ that I may make it clear ^(BA)in the way that I ought to proclaim it.

^5 [v](BB)Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward ^(BC)outsiders, ^[w](BD)making the most of the opportunity. ^6 (BE)Your speech must always be ^[x]with grace, as though seasoned with ^(BF)salt, so that you will know how you should ^(BG)respond to each person.