18 ^qWives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 ^rHusbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 ^sChildren, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 ^tFathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 ^uBondservants, obey in everything those who are your ^vearthly masters,¹ not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, ^wfearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, ^xas for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the ^yinheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is ^zno partiality.

1 Masters, treat your bondservants² justly and fairly, ^aknowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

2 ^bContinue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, ^cpray also for us, that God may open to us a ^ddoor for the word, to declare the ^emystery of Christ, ^fon account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is ^ghow I ought to speak.

5 ^hWalk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 ⁱLet your speech always be gracious, ^jseasoned with salt, ^kso that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

7 ^lTychicus will tell you all about my activities. ^mHe is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant³ in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may ⁿencourage your hearts, 9 and with him ^oOnesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of ^pthe circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always ^qstruggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand ^rmature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 ^sLuke the beloved physician greets you, as does ^tDemas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers⁴ at Laodicea, and to Nympha and ^uthe church in her house. 16 And ^vwhen this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to ^wArchippus, “See that you ^xfulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

18 ^yI, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. ^zGrace be with you.