1 I f therefore ye have been raised with the Christ, seek the things above, where the Christ is, sitting at right hand of God:

If then you have been raised with Christ, aim at and seek the that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

2 h ave your mind on the things above, not on the things on the earth;

And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

3 f or ye have died, and your life is hid with the Christ in God.

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4 W hen the Christ is manifested who our life, then shall ye also be manifested with him in glory.

When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5 P ut to death therefore your members which upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, vile passions, evil lust, and unbridled desire, which is idolatry.

So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God).

6 O n account of which things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

It is on account of these that the anger of God is ever coming upon the sons of disobedience (those who are obstinately opposed to the divine will),

7 I n which ye also once walked when ye lived in these things.

Among whom you also once walked, when you were living in and addicted to.

8 B ut now, put off, ye also, all things, wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, vile language out of your mouth.

But now put away and rid yourselves of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips!

9 D o not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his deeds,

Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices,

10 a nd having put on the new, renewed into full knowledge according to image of him that has created him;

And have clothed yourselves with the new, which is renewed and remolded into '> knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.

11 w herein there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ everything, and in all.

There is no room for and there can be neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarians or Scythians '> who are the most savage of all], nor slave or free man; but Christ is all and in all '> everything and everywhere, to all men, without distinction of person].

12 P ut on therefore, as elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;

Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), purified and holy and well-beloved tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, patience.

13 f orbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any should have a complaint against any; even as the Christ has forgiven you, so also ye.

Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also.

14 A nd to all these love, which is the bond of perfectness.

And above all these love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness.

15 A nd let the peace of Christ preside in your hearts, to which also ye have been called in one body, and be thankful.

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts to which as one body you were also called. And be thankful (appreciative),.

16 L et the word of the Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God.

Let the word Christ (the Messiah) have its home and dwell in you in richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with grace in your hearts.

17 A nd everything, whatever ye may do in word or in deed, all things in name of Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him.

And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.

18 W ives, be subject to husbands, as is fitting in Lord.

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is right and fitting and your proper duty in the Lord.

19 H usbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh or bitter or resentful toward them.

20 C hildren, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in Lord.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

21 F athers, do not vex your children, to the end that they be not disheartened.

Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children, lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated.

22 B ondmen, obey in all things your masters according to flesh; not with eye-services, as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Servants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you as pleasers of men, but in simplicity of purpose because of your reverence for the Lord and as a sincere expression of your devotion to Him.

23 W hatsoever ye do, labour at it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men;

Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as for the Lord and not for men,

24 k nowing that of Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance; ye serve the Lord Christ.

Knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance which is your reward. you are actually serving the Lord Christ (the Messiah).

25 F or he that does a wrong shall receive the wrong he has done, and there is no respect of persons.

For he who deals wrongfully will be punished for his wrongdoing. And there is no partiality.