Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect(A) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,(B) just as you would obey Christ.(C) Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,(D) doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,(E) because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,(F) whether they are slave or free.

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(G) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(H) with him.

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Slaves and Masters

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect[a] and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ,(A) not with a slavery performed merely for looks, to please people, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul. Render service with enthusiasm, as for the Lord and not for humans, knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are enslaved or free.

And, masters,[b] do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Lord[c] in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 6.5 Or fear
  2. 6.9 In Gk the same word is used for master and Lord
  3. 6.9 In Gk the same word is used for master and Lord