Colossians 3 - Easy To Read Version

¹ You were raised from death with Christ. So try to get the things in heaven. I mean the things where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

² Think only about the things in heaven, not the things on earth.

³ Your old sinful self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God.

⁴ Christ is your life. When he comes again, you will share in his glory.

⁵ So put all evil things out of your life: sexual sinning, doing evil, letting evil thoughts control you, wanting things that are evil, and selfishly wanting more and more. This wanting really means to live serving a false god.

⁶ These things make God angry. {\cf2\super [15]}

⁷ In your evil life in the past, you also did these things.

⁸ But now put these things out of your life: anger, being very mad, doing or saying things to hurt other people, and using evil words when you talk.

⁹ Don’t lie to each other. Why? Because you have left your old sinful life and the things you did before.

¹⁰ You have begun to live the new life. In your new life you are being made new. You are becoming like the One who made you. This new life brings you the true knowledge of God.

¹¹ In the new life there is no difference between Greeks and Jews. There is no difference between people that are circumcised {\cf2\super [16]} and people that are not circumcised, or people that are from some foreign country, or Scythians. {\cf2\super [17]} There is no difference between slaves and free people. But Christ is in all those believers. And Christ is all that is important.

¹² God has chosen you and made you his holy people. {\cf2\super [18]} He loves you. So always do these things: Show mercy to people; be kind, humble, gentle, and patient.

¹³ Don’t be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If another person does something wrong against you, then forgive that person. Forgive other people because the Lord forgave you.

¹⁴ Do all these things; but most important, love each other. Love is the thing that holds you all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. You were all called together in one body {\cf2\super [19]} to have peace. Always be thankful.

¹⁶ Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

¹⁷ Everything you say and everything you do should all be done for Jesus your Lord (Master). And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.

¹⁸ Wives, be willing to serve your husbands. This is the right thing to do in following the Lord.

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and be gentle to them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things. This pleases the Lord.

²¹ Fathers, don’t frustrate your children. If you are too hard to please, they might want to quit trying.