Colossians 3:12-25

12God has chosen you to be his own special people. You belong to him and he loves you very much. So this is how you should live: Be kind to other people and help them. Do not think that you are better than other people. Instead, respect them and be patient with them.

13Do not become angry with each other. If you think that someone has done something wrong against you, forgive them. Remember that the Lord has forgiven you. So you should also forgive other people.

14And you must also love each other. That is the most important thing that you should do. Love holds all these good things completely together.

15Christ has given you peace in your minds. So let that peace rule your thoughts. God has chosen you to be like one body, as his people. So he wants you to live together in peace. Thank God for everything that he gives to you.

16Let Christ's message always be in your thoughts, with all the good things that it brings. Use that message to teach and to warn each other. Be very wise as you do that. And also sing all kinds of spiritual songs to praise God. Sing psalms and Christian songs. As you sing, thank God from inside yourselves.

17Show that you belong to the Lord Jesus with everything that you do and with everything that you say. Always thank God the Father in the way that you serve Jesus.

18Wives, obey your husbands. That is the right thing to do, because you belong to the Lord.

19Husbands, love your wives. Do not bring trouble to them.

20Children, always obey your parents. That pleases the Lord.

21Fathers, do not cause your children to be upset. If you do, they might think that they never do anything that is good.

22Slaves, always obey your human masters. Do not do good work only when they can see you. Some people only work to make other people like them. Instead, serve your masters well because you want to. That will show that you respect the Lord as your master.

23Whatever things you are doing, do them well. Remember that you are serving the Lord. You are not only serving people.

24You know that you will receive the good things that the Lord has promised to his people. He will give you what is right for you. The Lord Jesus Christ is the master that you serve.

25Remember that God will punish anyone who does wrong things. He always judges people correctly, whoever they are.