Colossians 2

1 For I wish you to know how great a conflict I have in behalf of you, and those in Laodicea, and so many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

2 in order that their hearts may be comforted, being knitted together in divine love, and in all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, unto the perfect knowledge of the mystery of God, of Christ,

that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, [even] Christ,

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

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

4 I say this in order that no one may deceive you with a persuasive speech.

This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.

5 For if I am absent in the flesh, but I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the establishment of your faith toward Christ.

For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 Therefore as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk about in him,

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

7 having been rooted and grounded in him, and confirmed in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

rooted and builded up in him, and stablished in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See that no one shall be deceiving you through philosophy and empty delusion, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ,

Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:

9 because in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,

for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,

10 and you are complete in him, who is the head of all government and authority:

and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power:

11 in whom you are also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of depravity, in the circumcision of Christ;

in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;

12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you are also raised by the faith of the operation of God, who raised him from the dead:

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

13 and you, being dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your depravity, has he created life in you along with himself, having forgiven us all transgressions,

And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, [I say], did he quicken together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses;

14 having blotted out the handwriting which was against us in ordinances, which was antagonistical to us: and took it out from the midst, having nailed it to the cross;

having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;

15 having destroyed governments and authorities, he made a public exhibition of them triumphing over them on it.

having put off from himself the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16 Therefore let no one judge you in meat, or in drink, or in the participation of a feast, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath:

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day:

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

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

18 Let no one purposely rob you of your prize by humiliation and worship of the angels, trusting in those things which he has seen, being vainly puffed up by the mind of his depravity,

Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19 and not holding the Head, from which the entire body, by joints and ligaments being supplied and knitted together, increases the increase of God.

and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God.

20 If along with Christ you are dead from the elements of the world, why are you dogmatized as living in the world,

If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,

21 Touch not, taste not, handle not,

Handle not, nor taste, nor touch

22 those things which are all unto destruction by use according to the commandments and teachings of the people?

(all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?

23 Which indeed are having a word of wisdom in will worship, and humiliation, and austerity of the body; not in any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; [but are] not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.