| Chapter 4 |
1 |
Masters, deal justly and equitably with your slaves, knowing that you too have a Master in Heaven. --
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2 |
Be earnest and unwearied in prayer, being on the alert in it and in your giving of thanks. --
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3 |
And pray at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door for preaching, for us to tell the truth concerning Christ for the sake of which I am even a prisoner. --
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4 |
Then I shall proclaim it fully, as it is my duty to do. --
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5 |
Behave wisely in relation to the outside world, buying up your opportunities. --
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6 |
Let your language be always seasoned with the salt of grace, so that you may know how to give every man a fitting answer. --
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7 |
Tychicus, our much-loved brother, a trusty assistant and fellow servant with us in the Lord's work, will give you every information about me. --
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8 |
And for this very purpose I send him to you that you may know how we are faring; and that he may cheer your hearts. --
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9 |
And with him I send our dear and trusty brother Onesimus, who is one of yourselves. They will inform you of everything here. --
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10 |
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner sends greeting to you, and so does Barnabas's cousin Mark. You have received instructions as to him; if he comes to you, give him a welcome. --
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11 |
Jesus, called Justus, also sends greeting. These three are Hebrew converts. They alone among such have worked loyally with me for the Kingdom of God--they are men who have been a comfort to me. --
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12 |
Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, sends greetings to you, always wrestling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand firm--Christians of ripe character and of clear conviction as to everything which is God's will. --
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13 |
For I can bear witness to the deep interest he takes in you and in the brethren at Laodicea and in those at Hierapolis. --
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14 |
Luke, the dearly-loved physician, salutes you, and so does Demas. --
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15 |
Christian greetings to the brethren at Laodicea, especially to Nymphas, and to the Church that meets at their house. --
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16 |
And when this Letter has been read among you, let it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans, and you in turn must read the one I am sending to Laodicea. --
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17 |
And tell Archippus to discharge carefully the duties devolving upon him as a servant of the Lord. --
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18 |
I Paul add with my own hand this final greeting. Be mindful of me in my imprisonment. Grace be with you. --
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