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Colossians 4:1-3
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Colossians 4:1-3
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
4 1 Masters, be granting to your slaves the just[a] thing and equality[b], knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Devote Yourselves To Prayer
2 Be devoting-yourselves to prayer, keeping-watch[c] in it with thanksgiving, 3 praying at the same time also for us— that God may open to us a door for the word that we may speak the mystery of Christ because of which I also have been bound,
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- Colossians 4:1 Or, right, righteous (before your Master).
- Colossians 4:1 That is, treat them as equals before your common Master. Or, equity, fairness (from your common Master’s point of view). Paul is not directly referring to emancipation.
- Colossians 4:2 Or, staying-alert.
Colossians 4:1-3
King James Version
Colossians 4:1-3
King James Version
4 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
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Colossians 4:1-3
New King James Version
Colossians 4:1-3
New King James Version
Christian Graces; Final Greetings
4 Masters,(A) give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Christian Graces
2 (B)Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it (C)with thanksgiving; 3 (D)meanwhile praying also for us, that God would (E)open to us a door for the word, to speak (F)the [a]mystery of Christ, (G)for which I am also in chains,
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- Colossians 4:3 hidden truth
Colossians 4:1-3
New International Version
Colossians 4:1-3
New International Version
4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,(A) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Further Instructions
2 Devote yourselves to prayer,(B) being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door(C) for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery(D) of Christ, for which I am in chains.(E)
Colossians 4:1-3
English Standard Version
Colossians 4:1-3
English Standard Version
4 Masters, treat your bondservants[a] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Further Instructions
2 (A)Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it (B)with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may (C)open to us a door for the word, (D)to declare the mystery of Christ, (E)on account of which I am in prison—
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- Colossians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for servant in verse 12
Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT) 
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.