BBE - Colossians - 3

3:1  If then you have a new life with Christ, give your attention to the things of heaven, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

3:2  Keep your mind on the higher things, not on the things of earth.

3:3  For your life on earth is done, and you have a secret life with Christ in God.

3:4  At the coming of Christ who is our life, you will be seen with him in glory.

3:5  Then put to death your bodies which are of the earth; wrong use of the flesh, unclean things, passion, evil desires and envy, which is the worship of strange gods;

3:6  Because of which the wrath of God comes on those who go against his orders;

3:7  Among whom you were living in the past, when you did such things.

3:8  But now it is right for you to put away all these things; wrath, passion, bad feeling, curses, unclean talk;

3:9  Do not make false statements to one another; because you have put away the old man with all his doings,

3:10  And have put on the new man, which has become new in knowledge after the image of his maker;

3:11  Where there is no Greek or Jew, no one with circumcision or without circumcision, no division between nations, no servant or free man: but Christ is all and in all.

3:12  As saints of God, then, holy and dearly loved, let your behaviour be marked by pity and mercy, kind feeling, a low opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and a power of undergoing all things;

3:13  Being gentle to one another and having forgiveness for one another, if anyone has done wrong to his brother, even as the Lord had forgiveness for you:

3:14  And more than all, have love; the only way in which you may be completely joined together.

3:15  And let the peace of Christ be ruling in your hearts, as it was the purpose of God for you to be one body; and give praise to God at all times.

3:16  Let the word of Christ be in you in all wealth of wisdom; teaching and helping one another with songs of praise and holy words, making melody to God with grace in your hearts.

3:17  And whatever you do, in word or in act, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving praise to God the Father through him.

3:18  Wives, be under the authority of your husbands, as is right in the Lord.

3:19  Husbands, have love for your wives, and be not bitter against them.

3:20  Children, do the orders of your fathers and mothers in all things, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

3:21  Fathers, do not be hard on your children, so that their spirit may not be broken.

3:22  Servants, in all things do the orders of your natural masters; not only when their eyes are on you, as pleasers of men, but with all your heart, fearing the Lord:

3:23  Whatever you do, do it readily, as to the Lord and not to men;

3:24  Being certain that the Lord will give you the reward of the heritage: for you are the servants of the Lord Christ.

3:25  For the wrongdoer will have punishment for the wrong he has done, without respect for any man's position.