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Berean Standard Bible

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.”

Colossians 3:22

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Study note

Paul gives household instructions to the Colossians, including a word to slaves in the Roman world, where many early Christians were enslaved. He does not endorse slavery but speaks to people who had no legal power to leave it, and he pairs it with a reminder to masters.

Open Study notes above for the full note.

Compare translations

Berean Standard Bible (BSB)

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.

World English Bible (WEB)

Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

King James Version (KJV)

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

American Standard Version (ASV)

Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:

Bible in Basic English (BBE)

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:

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

The servants! obey in all things those who are masters according to the flesh, not in eye-service as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God;

Reina-Valera 1909 (RVR 1909)

Siervos, obedeced en todo á vuestros amos carnales, no sirviendo al ojo, como los que agradan á los hombres, sino con sencillez de corazón, temiendo á Dios:

Sagradas Escrituras 1569 (SE 1569)

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Nueva Biblia Viva (NBV)

Esclavos, obedezcan en todo a sus amos terrenales; no traten de agradarlos sólo cuando ellos los estén vigilando, sino siempre; obedézcanlos de buena gana y por respeto a Dios.

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