Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Revised Standard NRS
1 For I would have you know what manner of care I have for you and for them that are at Laodicea and whosoever have not seen my face in the flesh:
1 For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face.
2 That their hearts may be comforted, being instructed in charity and unto all riches of fulness of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ Jesus:
2 I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ himself,
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say, that no man may deceive you by loftiness of words.
4 I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments.
5 For though I be absent in body, yet in spirit I am with you, rejoicing, and beholding your order and the steadfastness of your faith which is in Christ.
5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
6 As therefore you have received Jesus Christ the Lord, walk ye in him:
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him,
7 Rooted and built up in him and confirmed in the faith, as also you have learned: abounding in him in thanksgiving.
7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy and vain deceit: according to the tradition of men according to the elements of the world and not according to Christ.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporeally.
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
10 And you are filled in him, who is the head of all principality and power.
10 and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.
11 In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand in despoiling of the body of the flesh: but in the circumcision of Christ.
11 In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ;
12 Buried with him in baptism: in whom also you are risen again by the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him up from the dead.
12 when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 And you, when you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he hath quickened together with him, forgiving you all offences:
13 And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses,
14 Blotting out the handwriting of the decree that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he hath taken the same out of the way, fastening it to the cross.
14 erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.
15 And despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them confidently in open shew, triumphing over them in himself.
15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of a festival day or of the new moon or of the sabbaths,
16 Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths.
17 Which are a shadow of things to come: but the body is of Christ.
17 These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
18 Let no man seduce you, willing in humility and religion of angels, walking in the things which he hath not seen, in vain puffed up by the sense of his flesh:
18 Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking,
19 And not holding the head, from which the whole body, by joints and bands, being supplied with nourishment and compacted, groweth into the increase of God.
19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If then you be dead with Christ from the elements of this world, why do you yet decree as though living in the world?
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations,
21 Touch not: taste not: handle not.
21 "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch"?
22 Which all are unto destruction by the very use, according to the precepts and doctrines of men.
22 All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings.
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in superstition and humility, and not sparing the body; not in any honour to the filling of the flesh.
23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.