Colossians 3:23

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,

King James Version (1611)
And whatsoeuer yee doe, doe it heartily, as to the Lord, and not vnto men:

King James Version
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

English Standard Version
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

New American Standard Bible
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people,

New Century Version
In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,

Legacy Standard Bible
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,

Berean Standard Bible
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,

Contemporary English Version
Do your work willingly, as though you were serving the Lord himself, and not just your earthly master.

Complete Jewish Bible
Whatever work you do, put yourself into it, as those who are serving not merely other people, but the Lord.

Darby Translation
Whatsoever ye do, labour at it heartily, as [doing it] to the Lord, and not to men;

Easy-to-Read Version
In all the work you are given, do the best you can. Work as though you are working for the Lord, not any earthly master.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And whatsoeuer ye doe, doe it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men,

George Lamsa Translation
And whatever you do, do it with your whole soul, as to our LORD and not unto men;

Good News Translation
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.

Lexham English Bible
Whatever you do, accomplish it from the soul, as to the Lord, and not to people,

Literal Translation
And whatever you may do, work from the soul as to the Lord and not to men,

Amplified Bible
Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,

American Standard Version
whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;

Bible in Basic English
Whatever you do, do it readily, as to the Lord and not to men;

Hebrew Names Version
And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men,

International Standard Version
Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing itlacks though you were doing it">[fn] for the Lord and not merely for people.Ephesians 6:6-7;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And all that you do, from all your heart do (it), as to our Lord, and not as to men.

Murdock Translation
And whatever ye do, do it with your whole soul, as unto our Lord, and not as to men:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And whatsoeuer ye do, do it heartilie, as to the Lorde, and not vnto men:

English Revised Version
whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;

World English Bible
And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance;

Weymouth's New Testament
Whatever you are doing, let your hearts be in your work, as a thing done for the Lord and not for men.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
What euer ye doen, worche ye of wille, as to the Lord and not to men;

Update Bible Version
whatever you do, work heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men;

Webster's Bible Translation
And whatever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men;

New English Translation
Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people,

New King James Version
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

New Living Translation
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

New Life Bible
Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart. Do it for the Lord and not for men.

New Revised Standard
Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Whatsoever ye may be doing, from the soul, be working at it, as unto the Lord, and not unto men,-

Douay-Rheims Bible
Whatsoever you do, do it from the heart, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Revised Standard Version
Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And whatsoever ye do do it hertely as though ye did it to the lorde and not vnto men for as moche as ye

Young's Literal Translation
and all, whatever ye may do -- out of soul work -- as to the Lord, and not to men,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
What so euer ye do, do it hertely, euen as vnto the LORDE and not vnto men.

Mace New Testament (1729)
and whatever you do, do it heartily, as serving the Lord, and not men:

Simplified Cowboy Version
Whatever you do, ride with all your heart, riding for the Lord, and not for men.

Contextual Overview

¹⁸ Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master. ¹⁹ Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don't take advantage of them. ²⁰ Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights the Master no end. ²¹ Parents, don't come down too hard on your children or you'll crush their spirits. ²²Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

whatsoever: Colossians 3:17, 2 Chronicles 31:21, Psalms 47:6, Psalms 47:7, Psalms 103:1, Psalms 119:10, Psalms 119:34, Psalms 119:145, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Jeremiah 3:10, 1 Peter 1:22

as: Zechariah 7:5-7, Matthew 6:16, Romans 14:6, Romans 14:8, Ephesians 5:22, Ephesians 6:6, Ephesians 6:7, 1 Peter 2:13, 1 Peter 2:15

Reciprocal: Numbers 14:24 - followed me 2 Samuel 6:14 - with all his 1 Chronicles 29:2 - with all Psalms 86:11 - unite Proverbs 3:6 - In 1 Corinthians 7:24 - abide 1 Corinthians 10:31 - ye eat 2 Corinthians 5:15 - live unto Ephesians 6:1 - in Colossians 3:16 - to the

Cross-References

Genesis 2:5
At the time God made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground— God hadn't yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs)— God formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul!

Genesis 4:2
Then she had another baby, Abel. Abel was a herdsman and Cain a farmer.

Genesis 9:20
Noah, a farmer, was the first to plant a vineyard. He drank from its wine, got drunk and passed out, naked in his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw that his father was naked and told his two brothers who were outside the tent. Shem and Japheth took a cloak, held it between them from their shoulders, walked backward and covered their father's nakedness, keeping their faces turned away so they did not see their father's exposed body.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And whatsoever ye do,.... Some have thought that these words, and the two following verses, regard the Colossians in general, and the performance of any, and all good works by them; but by their connection with the preceding verse, and with the beginning of the next chapter, they appear to concern servants only, and what they do under that character, and under the discharge of their duty:

do it heartily, not by mere force and necessity, grudgingly, and with murmurings, but from the heart, and with good will, having a true, real, and hearty affection for their masters, having their good and interest at heart, and a delight in their service; like the Hebrew servant, that loved his master, as also his wife and children, and therefore would not depart from him, see Exodus 21:5,

as to the Lord, and not unto men; Exodus 21:5- :.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Servants, obey in all things ... - ; see the notes at Ephesians 6:5-8.