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 would have you know, what manner of care I have for you and for them that are at Laodicea, and whosoever have not seen my face in the 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, namely, Messiah,

That their hearts may be comforted, being instructed in charity, and unto all riches of fulness of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ Jesus:

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

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

4 Now I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive words.

Now this I say, that no man may deceive you by loftiness of words.

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

For though I be absent in body, yet in spirit I am with you; rejoicing, and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith which is in Christ.

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

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

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

Rooted and built up in him, and confirmed in the faith, as also you have learned, abounding in him in thanksgiving.

8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty and deceptive philosophy, according to human tradition, according to the elementary principles of the world, and not according to Messiah.

Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy, and vain deceit; according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ:

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

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporeally;

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

And you are filled in him, who is the head of all principality and power:

11 in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Messiah;

In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand, in despoiling of the body of the flesh, but in the circumcision of 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.

Buried with him in baptism, in whom also you are risen again by the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him up 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, when you were dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh; he hath quickened together with him, forgiving you all offences:

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

Blotting out the handwriting of the decree that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he hath taken the same out of the way, fastening it to the cross:

15 having disarmed the rulers and authorities, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

And despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them confidently in open shew, triumphing over them in himself.

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you about food and drink, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,

Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of a festival day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths,

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

Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.

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

Let no man seduce you, willing in humility, and religion of angels, walking in the things which he hath not seen, in vain puffed up by the sense 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 the head, from which the whole body, by joints and bands, being supplied with nourishment and compacted, groweth unto the increase of God.

20 If you died with Messiah from the elementary principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,

If then you be dead with Christ from the elements of this world, why do you yet decree as though living in the world?

21 "Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch"

Touch not, taste not, handle not:

22 (all of which perish with use), according to human commandments and teachings?

Which all are unto destruction by the very use, according to the precepts and doctrines of men.

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

Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in superstition and humility, and not sparing the body; not in any honour to the filling of the flesh.