Colossians 3:5-25
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[a] 7 In these you once walked, when you lived in them. 8 But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices 10 and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scyth′ian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, 13 forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Rules for Christian Households
18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.[b] 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Colossians 3:6 Other ancient authorities add upon the sons of disobedience
- 3.18–4.5 The whole passage corresponds closely to Eph 5.22–6.9.
Colossians 3:5-25
New King James Version
5 (A)Therefore put to death (B)your members which are on the earth: (C)fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, (D)which is idolatry. 6 (E)Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon (F)the sons of disobedience, 7 (G)in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 (H)But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who (I)is renewed in knowledge (J)according to the image of Him who (K)created him, 11 where there is neither (L)Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, (M)but Christ is all and in all.
Character of the New Man
12 Therefore, (N)as the elect of God, holy and beloved, (O)put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 (P)bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 (Q)But above all these things (R)put on love, which is the (S)bond of perfection. 15 And let (T)the peace of God rule in your hearts, (U)to which also you were called (V)in one body; and (W)be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another (X)in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And (Y)whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
The Christian Home(Z)
18 (AA)Wives, submit to your own husbands, (AB)as is fitting in the Lord.
19 (AC)Husbands, love your wives and do not be (AD)bitter toward them.
20 (AE)Children, obey your parents (AF)in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
21 (AG)Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
22 (AH)Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 (AI)And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 (AJ)knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; (AK)for[a] you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and (AL)there is no partiality.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Colossians 3:24 NU omits for
Colossians 3:5-25
English Standard Version
5 (A)Put to death therefore (B)what is earthly in you:[a] (C)sexual immorality, impurity, (D)passion, evil desire, and covetousness, (E)which is idolatry. 6 (F)On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 (G)In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now (H)you must put them all away: (I)anger, wrath, malice, (J)slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 (K)Do not lie to one another, seeing that (L)you have put off (M)the old self[c] with its practices 10 and (N)have put on (O)the new self, (P)which is being renewed in knowledge (Q)after the image of (R)its creator. 11 (S)Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[d] free; but Christ is (T)all, and in all.
12 (U)Put on then, as (V)God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, (W)compassionate hearts, (X)kindness, (Y)humility, meekness, and patience, 13 (Z)bearing with one another and, (AA)if one has a complaint against another, (AB)forgiving each other; (AC)as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on (AD)love, which (AE)binds everything together in (AF)perfect harmony. 15 And let (AG)the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called (AH)in one body. And (AI)be thankful. 16 Let (AJ)the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, (AK)singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, (AL)with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And (AM)whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, (AN)giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Rules for Christian Households
18 (AO)Wives, submit to your husbands, as (AP)is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and (AQ)do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents (AR)in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey (AS)in everything those who are your earthly masters,[e] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 (AT)Whatever you do, work heartily, (AU)as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord (AV)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. (AW)You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Colossians 3:5 Greek therefore your members that are on the earth
- Colossians 3:6 Some manuscripts add upon the sons of disobedience
- Colossians 3:9 Greek man; also as supplied in verse 10
- Colossians 3:11 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for Bondservants in verse 22
- Colossians 3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
