Colossians 3:23–24
Daily work, done from the heart, is for the Lord
Study it word by word23Whatever you do, work at it from the soul, as for the Lord and not for people,
24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord, the Messiah, whom you serve as slaves.
In its context
21Fathers, do not provoke your children, so that they may not lose heart.
22Slaves, obey in everything your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
…
25For the one who does wrong will receive back what he did wrong, and there is no partiality.
Its words in the original
- ποιῆτεpoiēte· do, make
Do, make, produce.
- ψυχῆςpsychēs· soul, life
Soul: a person's life, the person himself.
- ἐργάζεσθεergazesthe· work
Work, do, carry out.
- κυρίῳkyriōi· Lord, lord
Lord, master, owner. Said of God, the Lord; in Old Testament quotations it stands for the name YHWH.
- ἀνθρώποιςanthrōpois· human being, man
Human being, person, man (without distinguishing male or female).
- εἰδότεςeidotes· know
Know, understand; also see.
- ἀπολήμψεσθεapolēmpsesthe· receive
To take aside; to receive.
- ἀνταπόδοσινantapodosin· reward
Reward, what is given in return.
- κληρονομίαςklēronomias· inheritance
Inheritance.
- ΧριστῷChristōi· Messiah
Messiah: literally "anointed", the king or envoy God consecrates with oil. It is a title, not a surname; in Hebrew, mashiach.
- δουλεύετεdouleuete· be a slave
Serve as a slave, be wholly at someone's service.