Colossians 3:18-4:6

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

Rules for Christian Households

¹⁸ Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart. ²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters^[a] in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.^{[b] 23} Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters,^{[c] 24} since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve^[d] the Lord Christ. ²⁵ For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality. 4 ¹ Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

² Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. ³ 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, ⁴ so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.

⁵ Conduct yourselves wisely towards outsiders, making the most of the time.^{[e] 6} Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.