22 Bondservants, obey (A)in everything those who are your earthly masters,[a] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 (B)Whatever you do, work heartily, (C)as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord (D)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. (E)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.

Masters, treat your bondservants[b] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh
  2. Colossians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for servant in verse 12

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