Philippians 2

1 If there is therefore any exhortation in Messiah, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,

If there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any comfort from his love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if there are any tender mercies and compassions,

2 make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;

then make my joy full by thinking alike, having the same love, being united in spirit, and having the same purpose.

3 doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

Do nothing out of selfishness or empty conceit. Instead with humility consider others better than yourselves.

4 each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

Each of you should take care not only for your own needs, but also for the needs of others.

5 Have this in your attitude, which was also in Messiah Jesus,

You should have the same attitude toward one another as was in Christ Jesus.

6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,

He existed in the form of God, but he did not consider his equality with God as something to hold on to.

7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

Instead, he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, and he was born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.

He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death of a cross!

9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;

Therefore God also highly exalted him. He gave him the name that is above every name.

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,

He did this so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend, the knees of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus (the) Messiah is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

He did this so that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with awe and reverence.

So then, my beloved, as you always obey, not only in my presence but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,

Do all things without complaining or arguing.

15 that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,

Act in this way so that you may become blameless and honest, children of God without blemish. Act in this way so that you may shine as lights in the world, in the middle of a crooked and depraved generation.

16 holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day of Messiah, that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

Hold tightly to the word of life so that I may have reason to glory on the day of Christ. For then I will know that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

17 Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all.

But even if I am being poured out as an offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

18 In the same way, you also rejoice, and rejoice with me.

In the same manner you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing.

But I have hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may also be encouraged when I know the things about you.

20 For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you.

For I have no one else with his same attitude, who is truly anxious for you.

21 For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus (the) Messiah.

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

22 But you know the proof of him, that, as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the gospel.

But you know his worth, because as a child serves his father, so he served with me in the gospel.

23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me.

So I hope to send him as soon as I see how things will go with me.

24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.

But I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.

25 But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need;

But I think it is necessary to send Epaphroditus back to you. He is my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and servant for my needs.

26 since he longed for you all, and was very troubled, because you had heard that he was sick.

For he was very distressed, and he longed to be with you all, because you heard that he was sick.

27 For indeed he was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow.

For indeed he was so sick that he almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but also on me, so that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

28 I have sent him all the more eagerly, therefore, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and that I may be less anxious.

So it is all the more eagerly that I am sending him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I can be free from anxiety.

29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such in honor,

Welcome Epaphroditus in the Lord with all joy. Honor people like him.

30 because for the work of Messiah he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.

For it was for the work of Christ that he came near death. He risked his life to serve me and fill up what you could not do in service to me.