Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Colossians 3
Seek the Things Above
Therefore, if you were raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is seated at God’s right hand. Set your minds on the things above, not on things on the earth, because you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
Put to Death the Old Practices
Therefore put to death what belongs to your earthly life: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these things God’s wrath is coming. You too once walked in these things when you lived in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, rage, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have stripped off the old humanity with its practices and have put on the new humanity, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free—but Christ is all and in all.
Put on Compassion and Love
Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with deep compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving each other if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord forgave you, so you also must forgive. Above all these put on love, which is the bond of maturity. Let Christ’s peace rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let Christ’s word dwell richly among you, teaching and warning one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Households under the Lord
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, because this is pleasing in the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children so that they do not become discouraged. Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not with eye-service as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work from the heart, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You serve the Lord Christ. For the one who does wrong will receive back the wrong they have done, and there is no partiality.