[1] Masters, give the things that are good and fair to your servants. Remember that you have a Master in heaven.
[2] Continue praying. And when you pray, always thank God.
[3] Also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message. I am in prison for doing this. But pray that we can continue to tell people the secret truth that God has made known about Christ.
[4] Pray that I can make this truth clear to people. That is what I must do.
[5] Be wise in the way you act with those people who are not believers. Use your time in the best way you can.
[6] When you talk, you should always be kind and wise. Then you will be able to answer every person in the way you should.
[7] Tychicus is my dear brother in Christ. He is a faithful helper and he serves the Lord with me. He will tell you all the things that are happening to me.
[8] That is why I am sending him. I want you to know how we are. And I am sending him to encourage you.
[9] I am sending him with Onesimus. Onesimus is a faithful and dear brother in Christ. He is from your group. Tychicus and Onesimus will tell you all that has happened here.
[10] Aristarchus says hello. He is a prisoner with me. And Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, also says hello. (I have already told you what to do about Mark. If he comes, welcome him.)
[11] Jesus (the one that is also called Justus) also says hello. These are the only Jewish believers who work with me for the kingdom of God. They have been a comfort to me.
[12] Epaphras also says hello. He is a servant of Jesus Christ. And he is from your group. He always prays for you. He prays that you will grow to be spiritually mature ˻(perfect)˼ and have everything that God wants for you.
[13] I know that he has worked hard for you and the people in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
[14] Demas and our dear friend Luke, the doctor, say hello.
[15] Say hello to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea. And say hello to Nympha and to the church that meets in her house.
[16] After this letter is read to you, be sure that it is also read to the church in Laodicea. And you read the letter that I wrote to Laodicea.
[17] Tell Archippus, “Be sure to do the work the Lord gave you.”
[18] I say hello and write this with my own hand—Paul. Remember me in prison. God’s grace ˻(kindness)˼ be with you.