King James Version KJV
Good News Translation GNT
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
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You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
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Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
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For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
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Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory!
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
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You must put to death, then, the earthly desires at work in you, such as sexual immorality, indecency, lust, evil passions, and greed (for greed is a form of idolatry).
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
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Because of such things God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him.
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
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At one time you yourselves used to live according to such desires, when your life was dominated by them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
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But now you must get rid of all these things: anger, passion, and hateful feelings. No insults or obscene talk must ever come from your lips.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
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Do not lie to one another, for you have put off the old self with its habits
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
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and have put on the new self. This is the new being which God, its Creator, is constantly renewing in his own image, in order to bring you to a full knowledge of himself.
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
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As a result, there is no longer any distinction between Gentiles and Jews, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarians, savages, slaves, and free, but Christ is all, Christ is in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
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You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
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Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
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And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
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The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
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Christ's message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
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Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father.
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
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Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, for that is what you should do as Christians.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
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Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
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Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents always, for that is what pleases God.
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
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Parents, do not irritate your children, or they will become discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
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Slaves, obey your human masters in all things, not only when they are watching you because you want to gain their approval; but do it with a sincere heart because of your reverence for the Lord.
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
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Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
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Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve.
25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
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And all wrongdoers will be repaid for the wrong things they do, because God judges everyone by the same standard.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.