| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. | 1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. |
| 2Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, | 2Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. |
| 3for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. | 3For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. |
| 4When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him. | 4And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. |
| 5So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. | 5So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. |
| 6Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. | 6Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. |
| 7You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. | 7You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. |
| 8But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. | 8But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. |
| 9Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices | 9Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. |
| 10and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. | 10Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. |
| 11Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all. | 11In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. |
| 12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, | 12Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. |
| 13bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others. | 13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. |
| 14And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond. | 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. |
| 15Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful. | 15And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. |
| 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. | 16Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. |
| 17And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. | 17And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Instructions for Christian Households |
| 18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. | 18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. |
| 19Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. | 19Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. |
| 20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord. | 20Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. |
| 21Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become disheartened. | 21Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged. |
| 22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching--like those who are strictly people-pleasers--but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. | 22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. |
| 23Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, | 23Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. |
| 24because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ. | 24Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. |
| 25For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there are no exceptions. | 25But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites. |
|
