< Philippians 4 >
1 So stand firm in the Lord, my dear friends who mean so much to me, who make me so happy! To me you are my crowning achievement! I truly love you and long to see you!
And so, my most beloved and most desired brothers, my joy and my crown: stand firm in this way, in the Lord, most beloved.
2 Euodia and Syntyche—I urge you to resolve your differences with each other and agree in the Lord.
I ask Euodia, and I beg Syntyche, to have the same understanding in the Lord.
3 In fact, my faithful fellow-worker, let me ask you to help these women, for they worked together with me to spread the good news—as well as Clement and my other co-workers, whose names are recorded in the book of life.
And I also ask you, as my genuine companion, to assist those women who have labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement and the rest of my assistants, whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Always be happy in the Lord—I repeat, Be happy!
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice.
5 Everyone should know about your kindness. The Lord will soon be here.
Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is near.
6 Don't worry about anything, but take everything to God in prayer, explaining your requests to him and thanking him for all he does.
Be anxious about nothing. But in all things, with prayer and supplication, with acts of thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God.
7 Then the peace that comes from God, which is better than we can ever imagine, will protect your thoughts and attitudes in Christ Jesus.
And so shall the peace of God, which exceeds all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Lastly, whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, beautiful, commendable, whatever is truly good and deserves to be praised, think about these kinds of things.
Concerning the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is chaste, whatever is just, whatever is holy, whatever is worthy to be loved, whatever is of good repute, if there is any virtue, if there is any praiseworthy discipline: meditate on these.
9 Put into practice what you learned and received from me, what you saw me doing and heard me say. Then the God of peace will be with you.
All the things that you have learned and accepted and heard and seen in me, do these. And so shall the God of peace be with you.
10 I'm so happy in the Lord that you've at last thought about me again—realizing that you were concerned about me before but you couldn't do anything about it.
Now I rejoice in the Lord exceedingly, because finally, after some time, your feelings for me have flourished again, just as you formerly felt. For you had been preoccupied.
11 I'm not talking about my own needs, because I've already learned to be satisfied in whatever situation I find myself.
I am not saying this as if out of need. For I have learned that, in whatever state I am, it is sufficient.
12 I'm used to having nothing, and I've experienced having plenty too. In every possible situation I've learned the secret of dealing with having plenty and going hungry, of being rich and of living in poverty:
I know how to be humbled, and I know how to abound. I am prepared for anything, anywhere: either to be full or to be hungry, either to have abundance or to endure scarcity.
13 I can do anything through him who makes me strong!
Everything is possible in him who has strengthened me.
14 Even so it was good of you to share with me during my troubles.
Yet truly, you have done well by sharing in my tribulation.
15 You Philippians remember that right at the beginning of sharing the good news, when I left Macedonia, that yours was the only church that helped me financially.
But you also know, O Philippians, that at the beginning of the Gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not a single church shared with me in the plan of giving and receiving, except you alone.
16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you helped me out not once but twice.
For you even sent to Thessalonica, once, and then a second time, for what was useful to me.
17 Not that I'm looking for a donation—I'm looking for your “account” to increase in “profit.”
It is not that I am seeking a gift. Instead, I seek the fruit that abounds to your benefit.
18 For I have everything, more than I need! I'm thankful to receive from Epaphroditus the things you sent. They're like a sweet-smelling sacrifice that pleases God and that he approves of.
But I have everything in abundance. I have been filled up, having received from Epaphroditus the things that you sent; this is an odor of sweetness, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
19 My God will fill you with everything you need in accordance with his glorious wealth in Christ Jesus!
And may my God fulfill all your desires, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 Glory be to God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. (aiōn )
And to God our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. (aiōn )
21 Greet every fellow-believer in Christ Jesus. The Christian brothers and sisters with me send their greetings.
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.
22 All the believers send you greetings, especially those from Caesar's palace.
The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.