Slaves and Masters

Slaves, obey your human[a] masters(A) with fear and trembling,(B) in the sincerity(C) of your heart, as you would Christ. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing God’s will(D) from your heart. Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people,(E) knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening(F) them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(G) with him.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. 6:5 Lit according to the flesh

As for slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling and with sincere devotion to Christ. Don’t work to make yourself look good and try to flatter people, but act like slaves of Christ carrying out God’s will from the heart. Serve your owners enthusiastically, as though you were serving the Lord and not human beings. You know that the Lord will reward every person who does what is right, whether that person is a slave or a free person. As for masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Stop threatening them, because you know that both you and your slaves have a master in heaven. He doesn’t distinguish between people on the basis of status.

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