Colossians 4

1 You masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, because you know that you have a master who is in heaven [who will say whether he approves of what you have done].

Ihr HERREN, was recht und gleich ist, das beweiset den Knechten und wisset, daß ihr auch einen HERRN im Himmel habt.

2 Pray to God persistently, and as you pray, be alert and be thanking God.

Haltet an am Gebet und wachet in demselbigen mit Danksagung!

3 Since I am in prison [MTY] because [I declared the message about Christ] that God has now revealed, pray also for me that God will give me opportunities [MTY] to speak, in order that I might declare it.

Und betet zugleich auch für uns, auf daß Gott uns die Tür des Worts auftue, zu reden das Geheimnis Christi, darum ich auch gebunden bin,

4 That is, pray for me that [God will enable me to] make his message known publicly. I need to do this because I know that I should declare it.

auf daß ich dasselbige offenbare, wie ich soll reden.

5 Act wisely towards those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus [MTY]; use every opportunity to do that.

Wandelt weislich gegen die, die draußen sind, und schicket euch in die Zeit!

6 In particular, always speak graciously and in a pleasant way [to those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus]. As a result, you will come to know in what manner you should answer each one of them.

Eure Rede sei allezeit lieblich und mit Salz gewürzet, daß ihr wisset, wie ihr einem jeglichen antworten sollt.

7 Tychicus will tell you all that has been happening to me. He is a fellow believer whom I/we [(exc)] love and who helps me faithfully and who serves the Lord [Jesus] together with me.

Wie es um mich stehet, wird euch alles kundtun Tychikus, der liebe Bruder und getreue Diener und Mitknecht in dem HERRN,

8 The reason that I am sending Tychicus to you [with this letter] is that he might know how you are and in order that he might strengthen you [spiritually]. (OR, in order that you might know about us [(exc)] and in order that he might comfort you.)

welchen ich habe darum zu euch gesandt, daß er erfahre, wie es sich mit euch verhält, und daß er eure Herzen ermahne,

9 I am sending him to you with Onesimus, who is a faithful fellow believer whom I/we [(inc)] love and who is your fellow townsman. They will tell you all about what has been happening here.

samt Onesimus, dem getreuen und lieben Bruder, welcher von den Euren ist. Alles, wie es hier zustehet, werden sie euch kundtun.

10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, and Mark, who is Barnabas’ cousin, (say that they are thinking fondly about you/send you their greetings). I have instructed you about Mark, so if he comes to you, welcome him.

Es grüßet euch Aristarchus, mein Mitgefangener, und Markus, der Neffe Barnabas, von welchem ihr etliche Befehle empfangen habt (so er zu euch kommt, nehmet ihn auf);

11 Jesus, who is also called Justus, also (says that he is thinking fondly about you/greets you/sends you his greetings). These three men are the only Jewish [believers] who are working with me in order that people would submit to God as their king, and they have all comforted me.

Und Jesus, der da heißt Just, die aus der Beschneidung sind. Diese sind allein meine Gehilfen am Reich Gottes, die mir ein Trost worden sind.

12 Epaphras, who is your fellow townsman and who serves Christ Jesus, (says that he is thinking fondly about you/greets you/sends you his greetings). Epaphras prays earnestly for you very often, that you might be spiritually mature and that you might know fully all that God wills for you.

Es grüßet euch Epaphras, der von den Euren ist, ein Knecht Christi, und allezeit ringet für euch mit Gebeten, auf daß ihr bestehet vollkommen und erfüllet mit allem Willen Gottes.

13 I can assure you that he prays this because he is deeply concerned for you, for those who live in Laodicea [city], and for those who live in Hierapolis [city].

Ich gebe ihm Zeugnis, daß er großen Fleiß hat um euch und um die zu Laodicea und zu Hierapolis.

14 Luke, the doctor, whom I/we [(exc)] love, and Demas (say that they are thinking fondly about you/send you their greetings).

Es grüßet euch Lukas, der Arzt, der Geliebte, und Demas.

15 Tell the fellow believers who live in Laodicea [city] and Nympha and the congregation that [meets] in her house that we (are thinking fondly about them/send them our greetings).

Grüßet die Brüder zu Laodicea und den, Nymphas und die Gemeinde in seinem Hause.

16 After [someone] reads this letter [publicly] to you, cause [someone] to also read it to the congregation that is in Laodicea [city]. And as for the [letter that I wrote to the congregation that is in] Laodicea [city], make sure that it is also read among you {you should also read that letter} publicly.

Und wenn der Brief bei euch gelesen ist, so schaffet, daß er auch in der Gemeinde zu Laodicea gelesen werde, und daß ihr den von Laodicea leset.

17 Say to Archippus, “Make sure that you complete the task that God appointed you to do, because you have a close relationship with the Lord Jesus.”

Und saget dem Archippus: Siehe auf das Amt, das du empfangen hast in dem HERRN, daß du dasselbige ausrichtest!

18 I, Paul, (am thinking fondly about you/send you my greetings). Having taken the pen from my scribe, I am now writing this myself in order that you may know that I have truly sent this letter. Remember to pray about the fact that I am in prison [MTY]. I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ would continue to act graciously towards you all.

Mein Gruß mit meiner, des Paulus, Hand. Gedenket meiner Bande! Die Gnade sei mit euch! Amen.