Philippians 2

1 So then, if you're encouraged by being in Christ, if you're comforted by his love, if you share together in the Spirit, if you have compassion and sympathy—

If then [there be] any comfort in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of [the] Spirit, if any bowels and compassions,

2 then make my joy complete by thinking the same way and loving the same way, spiritually united and having one purpose.

fulfil my joy, that ye may think the same thing, having the same love, joined in soul, thinking one thing;

3 Don't do anything from a spirit of selfishness or pride, but humbly think of others better than you do of yourself.

[let] nothing [be] in the spirit of strife or vain glory, but, in lowliness of mind, each esteeming the other as more excellent than themselves;

4 None of you should be preoccupied about your own things—instead concern yourself with the interests of others too.

regarding not each his own [qualities], but each those of others also.

5 The attitude you should have is the same as that of Christ Jesus.

For let this mind be in you which [was] also in Christ Jesus;

6 Though in his nature he was always God, he wasn't concerned to cling on to his equality with God.

who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God;

7 Instead he emptied himself, taking the nature of a servant, becoming like a human being.

but emptied himself, taking a bondman's form, taking his place in [the] likeness of men;

8 Coming in human form, humbling himself, he submitted himself to death—even death on a cross.

and having been found in figure as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and [that the] death of [the] cross.

9 That's why God placed him in the position of greatest honor and power, and gave him the most prestigious name—

Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and granted him a name, that which is above every name,

10 so that in the name of Jesus everyone should bow in respect, whether in heaven or on earth or under the earth,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly and earthly and infernal [beings],

11 and all will declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord to God [the] Father's glory.

12 So, my good friends, continue to work towards the goal of salvation with complete reverence and respect for God, following what you were told—not just when I was with you, but even more so now I'm away from you.

So that, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much rather in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

13 For it's God who is working within you, creating the will and the ability to do what he wants you to do.

for it is God who works in you both the willing and the working according to [his] good pleasure.

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing

Do all things without murmurings and reasonings,

15 so that you'll be sincere, innocent of any wrong. Be God's blameless children living in the middle of a dishonest and corrupt people. Shine among them as lights to the world,

that ye may be harmless and simple, irreproachable children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation; among whom ye appear as lights in [the] world,

16 holding out to them the word of life. That way I'll have something to be proud of when Christ returns, proving I didn't run around and work for nothing!

holding forth [the] word of life, so as to be a boast for me in Christ's day, that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain.

17 So even if I pour out my life as a sacrifice and offering so you may trust in God, I'm happy for it, and I'm glad together with all of you,

But if also I am poured out as a libation on the sacrifice and ministration of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice in common with you all.

18 just as you have such joy and are glad with me.

In like manner do ye also rejoice, and rejoice with me.

19 I'm hoping, if that's what the Lord Jesus wants, to send Timothy to you soon. It will cheer me up once I know how you're doing.

But I hope in [the] Lord Jesus to send Timotheus to you shortly, that I also may be refreshed, knowing how ye get on.

20 I don't know anyone who genuinely cares about you as he does.

For I have no one like-minded who will care with genuine feeling how ye get on.

21 Other people only worry about their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

For all seek their own things, not the things of Jesus Christ.

22 But you already know what he's like—just as a child working to help his father, so he's worked with me to spread the good news.

But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child a father, he has served with me in the work of the glad tidings.

23 So I hope to send him as soon as I see how I'm doing,

Him therefore I hope to send immediately, as soon as I shall see how it goes with me:

24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I'll be able to come too.

but I trust in [the] Lord that I myself also shall soon come;

25 But I thought it was important to send Epaphroditus to you. He's a brother to me, a co-worker and fellow-soldier. He's the one you sent to look after me,

but I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-workman and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and minister to my need,

26 and he's been longing to see all of you, worried about you because you'd heard he was sick.

since he had a longing desire after you all, and was distressed because ye had heard that he was sick;

27 He certainly was sick—he nearly died—but God had mercy on him. Not just on him, but on me too, so that I wouldn't have tragedy upon tragedy.

for he was also sick close to death, but God had mercy on him, and not indeed on him alone, but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

28 That's why I'm so keen to send him, so that when you see him you'll be happy, and I won't have to be so anxious.

I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that seeing him ye might again rejoice, and that I might be the less sorrowful.

29 So welcome him with much happiness in the Lord—honor people like him,

Receive him therefore in [the] Lord with all joy, and hold such in honour;

30 because in working for Christ he nearly died, putting his life on the line to make up for the help you weren't in a position to give me.

because for the sake of the work he drew near even to death, venturing his life that he might fill up what lacked in your ministration toward me.