Parallel Verses
An Understandable Version
Your speech should always be favorable, seasoned with salt [i.e., interesting and appropriate], so that you may know how to properly answer each person [you talk with].
New American Standard Bible
King James Version
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Holman Bible
Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt,
International Standard Version
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.
A Conservative Version
your speech always with grace seasoned with salt, to know how it is fitting for you to answer each one.
American Standard Version
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.
Amplified
Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].
Anderson New Testament
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every one.
Bible in Basic English
Let your talk be with grace, mixed with salt, so that you may be able to give an answer to everyone.
Common New Testament
Let your speech always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.
Daniel Mace New Testament
let an air of modesty appear in all your discourse; and let it be seasoned with discretion, in making a proper reply, when you are call'd into question.
Darby Translation
Let your word be always with grace, seasoned with salt, so as to know how ye ought to answer each one.
Godbey New Testament
Let your word be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how it behooves you to answer each one.
Goodspeed New Testament
Always put your message attractively, and yet pointedly, and be prepared to give every inquirer a fitting answer.
John Wesley New Testament
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every one.
Julia Smith Translation
Your word always in grace, Seasoned with salt, to know how it is fitting for you to answer one another.
King James 2000
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.
Lexham Expanded Bible
Let your speech always [be] with grace, seasoned with salt, so that [you] may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one.
Modern King James verseion
Let your speech be always with grace, having been seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Let your speech be always well favoured and be powdered with salt, that ye may know how to answer every man.
Moffatt New Testament
let your talk always have a saving salt of grace about it, and learn how to answer any question put to you.
Montgomery New Testament
Let your speech be always gracious, with a savor of salt, and learn how to give every man a fitting answer.
NET Bible
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.
New Heart English Bible
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Noyes New Testament
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every one.
Sawyer New Testament
Let your words always be with kindness, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer every one.
The Emphasized Bible
Your discourse being always with benefit, with salt, seasoned, - that ye may know how it behoveth you, unto each one, to be making answer.
Thomas Haweis New Testament
Let your discourse be always gracious, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to reply to every man.
Twentieth Century New Testament
Let your conversation always be kindly, and seasoned, as it were, with salt; that you may know in each case what answer you ought to give.
Webster
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Weymouth New Testament
Let your language be always seasoned with the salt of grace, so that you may know how to give every man a fitting answer.
Williams New Testament
Always let your conversation be seasoned with salt, that is, with winsomeness, so that you may know how to make a fitting answer to everyone.
World English Bible
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Worrell New Testament
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.
Worsley New Testament
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with discretion to know how ye ought to answer every one.
Youngs Literal Translation
your word always in grace -- with salt being seasoned -- to know how it behoveth you to answer each one.
Themes
Conversation » Speech, admonitions concerning
Courtesy » General references to
Grace » Saints » Should speak with
Missionaries » In holy conservation
Salt » Illustrative » Of wisdom in speech
Salt » Figurative » Of wise behavior
Social duties » Compassion » Courtesy, general references to
Speech » Admonitions concerning
Topics
Interlinear
Eido
Devotionals
Devotionals about Colossians 4:6
Devotionals containing Colossians 4:6
References
American
Easton
Fausets
Hastings
Morish
Watsons
Word Count of 37 Translations in Colossians 4:6
Images Colossians 4:6
Prayers for Colossians 4:6
Verse Info
Context Readings
Further Advice For The Christian Life
5 Be wise in the way you live in front of outsiders [i.e., non-Christians], making the most of every opportunity. 6 Your speech should always be favorable, seasoned with salt [i.e., interesting and appropriate], so that you may know how to properly answer each person [you talk with]. 7 Tychicus will tell you all about my affairs. [Note: This man probably delivered this letter as well as the one to the Ephesians. See Eph. 6:21]. He is our dearly loved brother and faithful minister and fellow-slave in [the service of] the Lord.
Cross References
1 Peter 3:15
But instead, set aside a place in your hearts where Christ is [in full control as] Lord, and be prepared always to give a suitable reply to every person who asks you for a reason why you have an inner hope. But [be sure you do it] in a meek and respectful way, however.
Mark 9:50
"Salt is good, but if it loses its salty flavor, what will you use to restore it? [i.e., it is difficult to restore the "salt" of sacrificial commitment to God once it is lost]. You should have salt in yourselves [i.e., develop the qualities of preserving, purifying commitment to God], and live peacefully with one another [i.e., instead of in rivalry. See 9:33-34].
Ephesians 4:29
Do not allow unwholesome [Note: The Greek word for "unwholesome" is "rotten, diseased"] language to come from your mouth, but only what is helpful for building up those who need it, so that you can impart favor [i.e., benefit] to those who listen [to you].
Matthew 5:13
"You people are [like] salt on the earth. But if salt loses its flavoring ability, how will it ever get it back again? From then on it would be good for nothing except to be thrown out onto the roadway and walked on by people. [Note: This was mined salt which, when losing its "saltiness" due to exposure to the sun or rain, was simply disposed of by being dumped onto the roadway where people walked].
Colossians 3:16
You should let the message of Christ live in you abundantly [i.e., as individuals and collectively]. Use [much] wisdom in teaching and warning one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with favor [i.e., with thankfulness] in your hearts toward God.
Matthew 12:34-35
You children of snakes! Since you are evil, how do you expect to speak good things? For the mouth speaks what the heart is filled with.
Luke 4:22
So, everyone spoke well of Him and marvelled at the gracious words coming from His mouth. They said, "Is he not Joseph's son?"
Luke 20:20-40
And they kept watching Him, [even] sending informants who pretended to be good [men], in order to get hold of something He said so they could turn Him over to the ruling authority of the governor.