The Bible in Basic English BBE
Good News Translation GNT
1 Masters, give your servants what is right and equal, conscious that you have a Master in heaven.
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Masters, be fair and just in the way you treat your slaves. Remember that you too have a Master in heaven.
2 Give yourselves to prayer at all times, keeping watch with praise;
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Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God.
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;
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At the same time pray also for us, so that God will give us a good opportunity to preach his message about the secret of Christ. For that is why I am now in prison.
4 So that I may make it clear, as it is right for me to do.
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Pray, then, that I may speak, as I should, in such a way as to make it clear.
5 Be wise in your behaviour to those who are outside, making good use of the time.
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Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have.
6 Let your talk be with grace, mixed with salt, so that you may be able to give an answer to everyone.
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Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right 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;
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Our dear friend Tychicus, who is a faithful worker and fellow servant in the Lord's work, will give you all the news about me.
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;
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That is why I am sending him to you, in order to cheer you up by telling you how all of us are getting along.
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.
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With him goes Onesimus, that dear and faithful friend, who belongs to your group. They will tell you everything that is happening 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),
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Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have already received instructions to welcome Mark if he comes your way.)
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.
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Joshua, also called Justus, sends greetings too. These three are the only Jewish believers who work with me for the Kingdom of God, and they have been a great help 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.
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Greetings from Epaphras, another member of your group and a servant of Christ Jesus. He always prays fervently for you, asking God to make you stand firm, as mature and fully convinced Christians, in complete obedience to God's will.
13 For I give witness of him that he has undergone much trouble for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
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I can personally testify to his hard work for you and for the people in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 Luke, our well-loved medical friend, and Demas, send you their love.
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Luke, our dear doctor, and Demas send you their greetings.
15 Give my love to the brothers in Laodicea and to Nymphas and the church in their house.
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Give our best wishes to the believers in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her 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.
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After you read this letter, make sure that it is read also in the church at Laodicea. At the same time, you are to read the letter that the believers in Laodicea will send you.
17 Say to Archippus, See that you do the work which the Lord has given you to do.
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And tell Archippus, "Be sure to finish the task you were given in the Lord's service."
18 I, Paul, give you this word of love in my handwriting. Keep in memory that I am a prisoner. Grace be with you.
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With my own hand I write this: [Greetings from Paul.] Do not forget my chains! May God's grace be with you.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.