Colossians 3:12-24

Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Christian Life

¹²Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved,^(A) put on heartfelt compassion, kindness,^(B) humility,^(C) gentleness,^(D) and patience,^(E) ¹³accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.^(F) ¹⁴Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called^(G) in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. ¹⁶Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name^(H) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Christ in Your Home

¹⁸Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.^(I)
¹⁹Husbands,^(J) love your wives^(K) and don’t be bitter^(L) toward them.
²⁰Children,^(M) obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
²¹Fathers,^(N) do not exasperate^(O) your children, so they won’t become discouraged.
²²Slaves, obey your human^(P) masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.^(Q)
²³Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically,^[a] as something done for the Lord and not for men,^(R) ²⁴knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.