Προς Κολοσσαεις 4

1 οι κυριοι το δικαιον και την ισοτητα τοις δουλοις παρεχεσθε ειδοτες οτι και υμεις εχετε κυριον εν ουρανοις

You masters, treat your servants in a way that is right and fair, recognizing that you too have a Master in heaven.

2 τη προσευχη προσκαρτερειτε γρηγορουντες εν αυτη εν ευχαριστια

Remember to keep on praying, with an alert and thankful mind!

3 προσευχομενοι αμα και περι ημων ινα ο θεος ανοιξη ημιν θυραν του λογου λαλησαι το μυστηριον του χριστου δι ο και δεδεμαι

Pray for us too that God may open a door of opportunity to spread the message, to tell about the revealed mystery of Christ—which is the reason I'm here in prison.

4 ινα φανερωσω αυτο ως δει με λαλησαι

Pray that I may make it as clear as I should when I speak.

5 εν σοφια περιπατειτε προς τους εξω τον καιρον εξαγοραζομενοι

Behave wisely with outsiders, making the best use of every opportunity.

6 ο λογος υμων παντοτε εν χαριτι αλατι ηρτυμενος ειδεναι πως δει υμας ενι εκαστω αποκρινεσθαι

Always be gracious when you speak. Make sure it's in good taste, and think about how best to answer everyone.

7 τα κατ εμε παντα γνωρισει υμιν τυχικος ο αγαπητος αδελφος και πιστος διακονος και συνδουλος εν κυριω

Tychicus will tell you all about what's happening to me. He's a dear brother, a trustworthy minister and co-worker in the Lord.

8 ον επεμψα προς υμας εις αυτο τουτο ινα γνω τα περι υμων και παρακαλεση τας καρδιας υμων

I'm sending him to you for this very reason—so that you'll know how things are with me and this will cheer you up.

9 συν ονησιμω τω πιστω και αγαπητω αδελφω ος εστιν εξ υμων παντα υμιν γνωριουσιν τα ωδε

Onesimus is going with him too, a trusted and dear brother, who's one of you. They'll explain to you everything that's going on here.

10 ασπαζεται υμας αρισταρχος ο συναιχμαλωτος μου και μαρκος ο ανεψιος βαρναβα περι ου ελαβετε εντολας εαν ελθη προς υμας δεξασθε αυτον

Aristarchus who's with me here in prison sends his best wishes; likewise Mark, Barnabas' cousin (you've already had instructions to welcome him if he visits you),

11 και ιησους ο λεγομενος ιουστος οι οντες εκ περιτομης ουτοι μονοι συνεργοι εις την βασιλειαν του θεου οιτινες εγενηθησαν μοι παρηγορια

and Jesus—also called Justus—who are the only Jewish Christians among those working with me here for the kingdom of God, men who have been a great help to me.

12 ασπαζεται υμας επαφρας ο εξ υμων δουλος χριστου παντοτε αγωνιζομενος υπερ υμων εν ταις προσευχαις ινα στητε τελειοι και πεπληρωμενοι εν παντι θεληματι του θεου

Epaphras who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends his greetings. He's always passionate in his prayers on your behalf, praying that you'll stand firm as grown-up Christians, totally convinced about everything as God would want.

13 μαρτυρω γαρ αυτω οτι εχει ζηλον πολυν υπερ υμων και των εν λαοδικεια και των εν ιεραπολει

For the record I can tell you that he's done a lot for you, and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis as well.

14 ασπαζεται υμας λουκας ο ιατρος ο αγαπητος και δημας

Luke, our dear doctor, and Demas also send their best.

15 ασπασασθε τους εν λαοδικεια αδελφους και νυμφαν και την κατ οικον αυτου εκκλησιαν

Greet the believers that are in Laodicea—Nympha too, and the church that meets in her house.

16 και οταν αναγνωσθη παρ υμιν η επιστολη ποιησατε ινα και εν τη λαοδικεων εκκλησια αναγνωσθη και την εκ λαοδικειας ινα και υμεις αναγνωτε

And when this letter has been read to you, make sure it's read to the church in Laodicea too, and that you also read the letter sent to Laodicea.

17 και ειπατε αρχιππω βλεπε την διακονιαν ην παρελαβες εν κυριω ινα αυτην πληροις

Tell Archippus, “See that you follow through in doing the ministry God gave you.”

18 ο ασπασμος τη εμη χειρι παυλου μνημονευετε μου των δεσμων η χαρις μεθ υμων αμην [ προς κολοσσαεις εγραφη απο ρωμης δια τυχικου και ονησιμου ]

I Paul write my closing greetings with my own hand. Remember I'm in prison. Grace be with you.