¹Masters, give your slaves what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

²Spend a lot of time and effort in prayer. Always be alert to what you should be praying for, and always give thanks for answered prayer.

³Pray for us too. Ask God to open a door for our message so that we can preach the mystery of Christ, for which I’m being held in chains.

⁴Pray that I will preach it clearly, as I should.

⁵Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders. Make the most of every opportunity.

⁶Learn how to speak with people graciously, using just the right words. That way you’ll know how to answer everyone.

⁷Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He’s a dear brother, a faithful worker, and a servant of the Lord together with us.

⁸I’m sending him to you specifically because I want you to know what’s happening here, and I want him to encourage you and strengthen your hearts.

⁹He’s coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who’s from your community. They’ll tell you everything that’s happening here.

¹⁰Aristarchus, who’s in prison with me, sends you his greetings. So does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You’ve been given directions about him. If he comes to you, welcome him.

¹¹Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews who are working together with me for God’s kingdom, and they’ve been a comfort to me.

¹²Epaphras, who’s from your community and who’s a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He’s always praying hard for you, that you’ll stand firm in the will of God and that you’ll be confident and mature.

¹³I can assure you that he’s working very hard for you and for everyone in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

¹⁴Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, sends greetings, and so does Demas.

¹⁵Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea. Also give my greetings to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.

¹⁶After this letter has been read to you, make sure that it’s read to the church in Laodicea. I sent them a letter also; make sure that you have that one read in your church too.

¹⁷Tell Archippus, “Be sure to complete the work the Lord has given you to do.”

¹⁸I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember that I’m being held in chains. May God’s grace be with you.