Colossians 3:12–25

The Christian Life

¹²Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, ^hput on heartfelt compassion, kindness, ⁱhumility, ^jgentleness, ^kand patience, ^l13accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. ^m14Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called ⁿin one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. ¹⁶Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name ^oof the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Christ in Your Home

¹⁸Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ^p

¹⁹Husbands, ^qlove your wives ^rand don’t be bitter ^stoward them.

²⁰Children, ^tobey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

²¹Fathers, ^udo not exasperate ^vyour children, so they won’t become discouraged.

²²Slaves, obey your human ^wmasters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. ^x

²³Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, ^yas something done for the Lord and not for men, ^z24knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵For the wrongdoer ^awill be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.