Colossians 3:22-4:1
English Standard Version
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.
4 Masters, treat your bondservants[b] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Footnotes
- Colossians 3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh
- Colossians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for servant in verse 12
Colossians 3:22-4:1
Lexham English Bible
22 Slaves, obey your human[a] masters in everything, not while being watched[b], as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, accomplish it from the soul, as to the Lord, and not to people, 24 because you[c] know that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Serve[d] the Lord Christ. 25 For the one who does wrong will receive back whatever wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
4 Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you also have a master in heaven.
Footnotes
- Colossians 3:22 Literally “according to the flesh”
- Colossians 3:22 Literally “with eye-service”
- Colossians 3:24 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal
- Colossians 3:24 Or “You serve”; the same Greek verb form can be understood as either imperative (“serve”) or indicative (“you serve”), so that commentators and Bible translations differ
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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