Philippians 2

1 If then there is any exhortation in Christ, if any encouragement from love, if any partaking of the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,

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—

2 make my joy full, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, with union of soul cherishing one mind;

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

3 doing nothing in the spirit of faction, or in the spirit of vain-glory, but in humility esteeming others as better than yourselves;

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

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

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

5 Yea, let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus,

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

6 who, being in the form of God, did not regard it as a thing to be grasped at to be on an equality with God,

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

7 but made himself of no consideration, taking the form of a servant, and becoming like men;

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

8 and in what appertained to him appearing as a man, he humbled himself, and was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

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

9 Wherefore God also highly exalted him, and gave him a name which is above every name;

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

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

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

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

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

12 So then, my beloved, as ye always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

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.

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

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

14 Do all things without murmurings and doubts;

Do everything without complaining or arguing

15 that ye may be blameless and pure, children of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; among whom ye shine as luminaries in the world,

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,

16 holding forth the word of life, that I may have whereof to boast against the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain, or labor in vain.

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!

17 But if I am even poured out on the sacrifice and ministration of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all.

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,

18 For the same reason, do ye also rejoice, and rejoice with me.

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

19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I know your state.

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.

20 For I have no one like-minded, who will have a true concern for your state;

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

21 for all of them are seeking their own things, not those of Christ Jesus.

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

22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son serves a father, he served with me for the gospel.

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.

23 Him therefore I hope to send forthwith, as soon as I see how it will go with me;

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

24 but I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come soon.

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

25 Yet I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger, and minister to my wants;

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,

26 for he was longing after you all, and was much troubled, because ye heard that he was sick.

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

27 For indeed he was sick near to death; but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

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.

28 I send him therefore the more speedily, that when ye see him ye may again rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

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.

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

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

30 because he was near to death on account of the work, hazarding his life to supply what was wanting on your part in the ministration to me.

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.