Colossians 2

1 For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have about you, and those at Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in flesh.

2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

So that their hearts may be encouraged, having been united together in love, and for all wealth of the full assurance of understanding, to knowledge of the mystery of the God and Father of the Christ.

3 in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.

And I say this so that not any man may delude you with persuasive speech.

5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

For even though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your orderliness, and the steadfastness of your faith for Christ.

6 As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,

As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,

7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.

rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as ye were taught, abounding in it with thankfulness.

8 Be careful that you do not let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Christ.

Take heed lest there will be any man taking you captive through the love of wisdom and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ.

9 For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily,

Because in him all the fullness of the divinity dwells bodily.

10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.

And ye are men who have been made full in him, who is the head of every principal office and position of authority.

11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,

In whom also ye were circumcised a circumcision not made with hands, in the removal of the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of the Christ.

12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Having been buried with him in immersion, in which also ye were raised together through faith of the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

And you, being dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you he made alive together with him, having forgiven us all the transgressions,

14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.

having erased the handwriting against us in the regulations that were hostile to us, and he has taken it up from the midst, having nailed it to the cross.

15 Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Having stripped the principal offices and the positions of authority, he exposed them openly, having triumphed over them by it.

16 Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,

Let not any man therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,

17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.

which are a shadow of the things coming, but the body is Christ's.

18 Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Let no man umpire against you insisting on self-mortification, and worship of the agents, intruding in things that he has not seen, vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,

19 and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.

and not holding to the head, from whom all the body, being supplied and held together through the connections and bonds, develops its growth from God.

20 If you died with Christ from the elemental spirits of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,

If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why do ye submit to rules, as though living in the world?

21 “Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch”

Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch

22 (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?

(which are all things for consumption by use), according to the commandments and teachings of men?

23 These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body, but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Which having, are indeed a matter of wisdom in will-worship, and self-mortification, and austerity of the body-not in any value against indulgence of the flesh.