22 Slaves, obey your human(A) masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.(B) 23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,(C) 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer(D) will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.

Masters,(E) deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched in order to please them, but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it[a] for the Lord and not merely for people. 24 You know that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance as a reward. It is the Lord Messiah[b] whom you are serving! 25 For the person who does what is wrong will be paid back for what he has done without favoritism.

Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:23 The Gk. lacks though you were doing it
  2. Colossians 3:24 Or Christ