¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live^(A)—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity,^(B) because the days are evil.^{(C) 17} Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.^{(D) 18} Do not get drunk on wine,^(E) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,^{(F) 19} speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.^(G) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks^(H) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instructions for Christian Households^(I)

²¹ Submit to one another^(J) out of reverence for Christ.

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands^(K) as you do to the Lord.^{(L) 23} For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,^(M) his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands^(N) in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives,^(O) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her^{(P) 26} to make her holy,^(Q) cleansing^[a] her by the washing^(R) with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself^(S) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.^{(T) 28} In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives^(U) as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body.^{(V) 31} “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{[b](W) 32} This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife^(X) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.^{(Y) 2} “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— ³ “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”^[c](Z)

⁴ Fathers,^[d] do not exasperate your children;^(AA) instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.^(AB)

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect^(AC) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,^(AD) just as you would obey Christ.^{(AE) 6} Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,^(AF) doing the will of God from your heart. ⁷ Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,^{(AG) 8} because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,^(AH) whether they are slave or free.

⁹ And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours^(AI) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism^(AJ) with him.

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord^(AK) and in his mighty power.^{(AL) 11} Put on the full armor of God,^(AM) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,^(AN) but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(AO) against the powers^(AP) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.^{(AQ) 13} Therefore put on the full armor of God,^(AR) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,^(AS) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,^{(AT) 15} and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.^{(AU) 16} In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,^(AV) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(AW) 17} Take the helmet of salvation^(AX) and the sword of the Spirit,^(AY) which is the word of God.^(AZ)

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit^(BA) on all occasions^(BB) with all kinds of prayers and requests.^(BC) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying^(BD) for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me,^(BE) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly^(BF) make known the mystery^(BG) of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador^(BH) in chains.^(BI) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Final Greetings

²¹ Tychicus,^(BJ) the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. ²² I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are,^(BK) and that he may encourage you.^(BL)

²³ Peace^(BM) to the brothers and sisters,^[e] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.^[f]

1 Paul, an apostle^(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,^(B) and Timothy^(C) our brother,

² To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters^[a] in Christ:

Grace^(D) and peace to you from God our Father.^[b](E)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ We always thank God,^(F) the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love^(G) you have for all God’s people^(H)— ⁵ the faith and love that spring from the hope^(I) stored up for you in heaven^(J) and about which you have already heard in the true message^(K) of the gospel ⁶ that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit^(L) and growing throughout the whole world^(M)—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. ⁷ You learned it from Epaphras,^(N) our dear fellow servant,^[c] who is a faithful minister^(O) of Christ on our^[d] behalf, ⁸ and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.^(P)

⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you,^(Q) we have not stopped praying for you.^(R) We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will^(S) through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,^{[e](T) 10} so that you may live a life worthy^(U) of the Lord and please him^(V) in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,^{(W) 11} being strengthened with all power^(X) according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,^{(Y) 12} and giving joyful thanks to the Father,^(Z) who has qualified you^[f] to share in the inheritance^(AA) of his holy people in the kingdom of light.^{(AB) 13} For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness^(AC) and brought us into the kingdom^(AD) of the Son he loves,^{(AE) 14} in whom we have redemption,^(AF) the forgiveness of sins.^(AG)

The Supremacy of the Son of God

¹⁵ The Son is the image^(AH) of the invisible God,^(AI) the firstborn^(AJ) over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created:^(AK) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;^(AL) all things have been created through him and for him.^{(AM) 17} He is before all things,^(AN) and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head^(AO) of the body, the church;^(AP) he is the beginning and the firstborn^(AQ) from among the dead,^(AR) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased^(AS) to have all his fullness^(AT) dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile^(AU) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,^(AV) by making peace^(AW) through his blood,^(AX) shed on the cross.

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies^(AY) in your minds^(AZ) because of^[g] your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled^(BA) you by Christ’s physical body^(BB) through death to present you^(BC) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation^(BD)— ²³ if you continue^(BE) in your faith, established^(BF) and firm, and do not move from the hope^(BG) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,^(BH) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.^(BI)