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Colossians 3:2

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Colossians 3:2, King James Version (KJV)

“Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.”

World English Bible (WEB)

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Colossians 3 (KJV)

  1. 1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
  2. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
  3. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
  4. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
  5. 5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
  6. 6For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
  7. 7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
  8. 8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
  9. 9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
  10. 10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
  11. 11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
  12. 12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
  13. 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
  14. 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
  15. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
  16. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
  17. 17And what soever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
  18. 18Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
  19. 19Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
  20. 20Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
  21. 21Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
  22. 22Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
  23. 23And what soever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
  24. 24Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
  25. 25But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Related verses

Passages that readers often connect with Colossians 3:2, in the King James Version.

  • 1 John 2:15–17

    Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. …

  • 1 Chronicles 22:19

    Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.

  • Colossians 3:1

    If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

  • Matthew 16:23

    But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

  • Romans 8:4–6

    That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. …

  • Matthew 6:19

    Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

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1769 standardized text (eBible.org eng-kjv). Public domain outside the United Kingdom. Text courtesy of the Crosswire Bible Society and eBible.org. World English Bible Protestant Edition (eBible engwebp, 2026-09-15 snapshot). Public domain. World English Bible is a trademark of eBible.org. Text unmodified; footnotes and formatting omitted. Related verses: OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0), from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.