1 Kungi, kā tas ir pareizi un taisnīgi, tā darait saviem kalpiem; jūs zināt: arī jums ir Kungs - debesīs. 2 Esiet pastāvīgi lūgšanās, esiet ar tām nomodā ar pateicību. 3 Reizē lūdziet arī par mums, lai Dievs mūsu sludināšanai atvērtu durvis, ka es varētu sludināt Kristus noslēpumu, kura dēļ esmu važās, 4 un lai es to varu darīt zināmu, kā tas man pienākas. 5 Izturieties gudri pret tiem, kas nepieder pie draudzes; izmantojiet šo laiku. 6 Jūsu runa lai aizvien ir tīkama, ar sāli sālīta, lai jūs zinātu, kā ikvienam atbildēt. 7 Visu, kas attiecas uz mani, jums darīs zināmu mīļais brālis Tihiks, uzticamais kalps un biedrs Tā Kunga darbā. 8 Viņu es jau tāpēc pie jums esmu sūtījis, lai jūs dabūtu zināt, kā mums klājas, un lai viņš stiprinātu jūsu sirdis, 9 kopā ar uzticamo un mīļoto brāli Onēzimu, kas ir no jūsu vidus: tie jums visu darīs zināmu, kas šeit notiek. 10 Jūs sveicina mans cietuma biedrs Aristarhs un Marks, Barnabas brāļadēls, par viņu jūs jau esat saņēmuši aizrādījumus: kad viņš ieradīsies pie jums, uzņemiet to! 11 Un Jesus, saukts Justs, vienīgie darba biedri Dieva valstības lietās no apgraizīto vidus. Viņi bijuši mani iepriecinātāji. 12 Jūs sveicina vēl Epafra, kas ir no jūsu vidus, Kristus Jēzus kalps, kas pastāvīgi cīnās par jums savās lūgšanās, lai jūs kļūtu pilnīgi un ar visu pārliecību stāvētu par to, kas ir Dieva griba. 13 Es varu apliecināt, ka viņš daudz pūlas par jums un par tiem Lāodikejā un Hierapolē. 14 Jūs sveicina mīļais ārsts Lūka un Dēma, 15 sveicinait brāļus Lāodikejā un Nimfu ar viņas mājas draudzi. 16 Kad jūs šo vēstuli būsit izlasījuši, parūpējieties, lai tā tiktu lasīta arī Lāodikejas draudzē, bet to, kas nāks no Lāodikejas, lasiet arī jūs. 17 Bet Arhipam es lieku sacīt: skaties, ka tu izpildītu kalpošanu, kuru saņēmi Tai Kungā. 18 Sveiciens ar manu, Pāvila, paša roku. Pieminiet manas važas! Žēlastība ar jums!
1 Masters, be fair and just in the way you treat your slaves. Remember that you too have a Master in heaven.
Instructions
2 Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God. 3 At the same time pray also for us, so that God will give us a good opportunity to preach his message about the secret of Christ. For that is why I am now in prison. 4 Pray, then, that I may speak, as I should, in such a way as to make it clear.
5 Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have. 6 Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone.
Final Greetings
7 Our dear friend Tychicus, who is a faithful worker and fellow servant in the Lord's work, will give you all the news about me. 8 That is why I am sending him to you, in order to cheer you up by telling you how all of us are getting along. 9 With him goes Onesimus, that dear and faithful friend, who belongs to your group. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have already received instructions to welcome Mark if he comes your way.) 11 Joshua, also called Justus, sends greetings too. These three are the only Jewish believers who work with me for the Kingdom of God, and they have been a great help to me.
12 Greetings from Epaphras, another member of your group and a servant of Christ Jesus. He always prays fervently for you, asking God to make you stand firm, as mature and fully convinced Christians, in complete obedience to God's will. 13 I can personally testify to his hard work for you and for the people in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, our dear doctor, and Demas send you their greetings.
15 Give our best wishes to the believers in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. 16 After you read this letter, make sure that it is read also in the church at Laodicea. At the same time, you are to read the letter that the believers in Laodicea will send you. 17 And tell Archippus, “Be sure to finish the task you were given in the Lord's service.”
18 With my own hand I write this: Greetings from Paul. Do not forget my chains!
May God's grace be with you.
