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 [a](A)Slaves, obey those who are your [b]human masters in everything, (B)not with [c]eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work [d]heartily, (C)as for the Lord and not for people, 24 (D)knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward [e]of (E)the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you (F)serve. 25 For (G)the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and [f](H)that without partiality.

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

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:22 I.e., slaves in first-century Roman culture
  2. Colossians 3:22 Lit masters according to flesh
  3. Colossians 3:22 I.e., working only when watched
  4. Colossians 3:23 Lit from the soul
  5. Colossians 3:24 I.e., consisting of
  6. Colossians 3:25 Lit there is no partiality