1 Betoon reg en billikheid, here, aan julle diensknegte, omdat julle weet dat julle ook 'n Here in die hemele het.

2 Volhard in die gebed en waak daarin met danksegging;

3 en bid tegelykertyd ook vir ons, dat God vir ons die deur van die woord mag open om te spreek van die verborgenheid van Christus, waarvoor ek ook in boeie is,

4 dat ek dit openbaar kan maak soos ek dit behoort te spreek.

5 Wandel in wysheid teenoor die wat buite is, en koop die tyd uit.

6 Laat julle woord altyd aangenaam wees, met sout besprinkel, sodat julle kan weet hoe julle iedereen moet antwoord.

7 Al my omstandighede sal T¡chikus, die geliefde broeder en getroue dienaar en mededienskneg in die Here, julle bekend maak.

8 Ek het hom na julle gestuur juis hiervoor, om julle toestande te leer ken en julle harte te vertroos,

9 saam met On,simus, die getroue en geliefde broeder wat van julle mense is. Hulle sal julle alles bekend maak wat hier voorval.

10 Arist rchus, my medegevangene, groet julle; en Markus, die neef van B rnabas, oor wie julle bevele ontvang het -- as hy by julle kom, ontvang hom --

11 ook Jesus wat Justus genoem word, manne wat uit die besnydenis is. Hulle alleen is my medewerkers vir die koninkryk van God en hulle was 'n troos vir my.

12 pafras wat een van julle is, 'n dienskneg van Christus, groet julle en stry altyd vir julle in die gebede, dat julle volmaak en volkome mag staan in die ganse wil van God.

13 Want ek getuig van hom dat hy 'n groot ywer het vir julle en vir die wat in Laodic,a en die wat in Hiër polis is.

14 Die geneesheer Lukas, die geliefde, en Demas groet julle.

15 Groet die broeders in Laodic,a en Nimfas en die gemeente wat in sy huis is.

16 En wanneer hierdie brief by julle gelees is, sorg dat dit ook in die gemeente van die Laodicense gelees word en dat julle ook die uit Laodic,a lees.

17 En sê aan Arch¡ppus: Gee ag op die bediening wat jy ontvang het in die Here, dat jy dit vervul.

18 Die groete van Paulus, met my eie hand. Dink aan my boeie. Die genade sy met julle! Amen.

1 Masters, give your servants what is right and equal, conscious that you have a Master in heaven.

2 Give yourselves to prayer at all times, keeping watch with praise;

3 And making prayer for us, that God may give us an open door for the preaching of the word, the secret of Christ, for which I am now in chains;

4 So that I may make it clear, as it is right for me to do.

5 Be wise in your behaviour to those who are outside, making good use of the time.

6 Let your talk be with grace, mixed with salt, so that you may be able to give an answer to everyone.

7 Tychicus will give you news of all my business: he is a dear brother and true servant and helper in the word;

8 And I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may have news of how we are, and so that he may give your hearts comfort;

9 And with him I have sent Onesimus, the true and well-loved brother, who is one of you. They will give you word of everything which is taking place here.

10 Aristarchus, my brother-prisoner, sends his love to you, and Mark, a relation of Barnabas (about whom you have been given orders: if he comes to you, be kind to him),

11 And Jesus, whose other name is Justus; these are of the circumcision: they are my only brother-workers for the kingdom of God, who have been a comfort to me.

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his love, ever taking thought for you in his prayers, that you may be complete and fully certain of all the purpose of God.

13 For I give witness of him that he has undergone much trouble for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.

14 Luke, our well-loved medical friend, and Demas, send you their love.

15 Give my love to the brothers in Laodicea and to Nymphas and the church in their house.

16 And when this letter has been made public among you, let the same be done in the church of Laodicea; and see that you have the letter from Laodicea.

17 Say to Archippus, See that you do the work which the Lord has given you to do.

18 I, Paul, give you this word of love in my handwriting. Keep in memory that I am a prisoner. Grace be with you.