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Friday, May 16th, 2025
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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

Colossians 3:23

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   Integrity;   Servant;   The Topic Concordance - Deeds;   Obedience;   Servants;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Consecration;   Servant;   Work;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Motives;   Reward;   Wages;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Hezekiah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Black People and Biblical Perspectives;   Slave/servant;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Angels;   Arts;   Character;   Commandment;   Labour;   Liberty;   Worldliness;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Heartily;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for October 16;  

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 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, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. 20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. 25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.

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
neither wild plants nor grains were growing on the earth. For the Lord God had not yet sent rain to water the earth, and there were no people to cultivate the soil.
Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return."
Genesis 4:2
Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground.
Genesis 4:12
No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth."
Genesis 9:20
After the flood, Noah began to cultivate the ground, and he planted a vineyard.
Ecclesiastes 5:9
Even the king milks the land for his own profit!

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.


 
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