4:1 Masters, deal justly and equitably with your slaves, knowing that you too have a Master in Heaven.

4:2 Be earnest and unwearied in prayer, being on the alert in it and in your giving of thanks.

4:3 And pray at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door for preaching, for us to tell the truth concerning Christ for the sake of which I am even a prisoner.

4:4 Then I shall proclaim it fully, as it is my duty to do.

4:5 Behave wisely in relation to the outside world, buying up your opportunities.

4:6 Let your language be always seasoned with the salt of grace, so that you may know how to give every man a fitting answer.

4:7 Tychicus, our much-loved brother, a trusty assistant and fellow servant with us in the Lord's work, will give you every information about me.

4:8 And for this very purpose I send him to you that you may know how we are faring; and that he may cheer your hearts.

4:9 And with him I send our dear and trusty brother Onesimus, who is one of yourselves. They will inform you of everything here.

4:10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner sends greeting to you, and so does Barnabas's cousin Mark. You have received instructions as to him; if he comes to you, give him a welcome.

4:11 Jesus, called Justus, also sends greeting. These three are Hebrew converts. They alone among such have worked loyally with me for the Kingdom of God--they are men who have been a comfort to me.

4:12 Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, sends greetings to you, always wrestling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand firm--Christians of ripe character and of clear conviction as to everything which is God's will.

4:13 For I can bear witness to the deep interest he takes in you and in the brethren at Laodicea and in those at Hierapolis.

4:14 Luke, the dearly-loved physician, salutes you, and so does Demas.

4:15 Christian greetings to the brethren at Laodicea, especially to Nymphas, and to the Church that meets at their house.

4:16 And when this Letter has been read among you, let it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans, and you in turn must read the one I am sending to Laodicea.

4:17 And tell Archippus to discharge carefully the duties devolving upon him as a servant of the Lord.