Philippians 4
1 So then, my dear friends, whom I am longing to see – you who are my joy and my crown, stand fast in union with the Lord, dear friends.
Therefore, my brethren, dearly loved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my dearly-loved ones.
2 I entreat Euodia, and I entreat Syntyche, to live in harmony, in union with the Lord;
I entreat Euodia, and I entreat Syntyche, to be of one mind, as sisters in Christ.
3 yes, and I ask you, my true comrade, to help them, remembering that they toiled by my side in spreading the good news; and so, too, did Clement and my other fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Yes, and I beg you also, my faithful yoke-fellow, to help these women who have shared my toil in connection with the Good News, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow labourers, whose names are recorded in the Book of Life.
4 All joy be yours at all times in your union with the Lord. Again I repeat – All joy be yours.
Always be glad in the Lord: I will repeat it, be glad.
5 Let your forbearing spirit be plain to everyone. The Lord is near.
Let your forbearing spirit be known to every one--the Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious about anything; but under all circumstances, by prayer and entreaty joined with thanksgiving, make your needs known to God.
Do not be over-anxious about anything, but by prayer and earnest pleading, together with thanksgiving, let your request be unreservedly made known in the presence of God.
7 Then the peace of God, which is beyond all human understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and thoughts, through your union with Christ Jesus.
And then the peace of God, which transcends all our powers of thought, will be a garrison to guard your hearts and minds in union with Christ Jesus.
8 In conclusion, friends, whenever you find things that are true or honorable, righteous or pure, lovable or praiseworthy, or if virtue and honor have any meaning, let them fill your thoughts.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever wins respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovable, whatever is of good repute--if there is any virtue or anything deemed worthy of praise--cherish the thought of these things.
9 All that you learned and received and heard and saw in me put into practice continually; and then God, the giver of peace, will be with you.
The doctrines and the line of conduct which I taught you--both what you heard and what you saw in me-- hold fast to them; and God who gives peace will be with you.
10 It was a matter of great joy to me, as one in union with the Lord, that at length your interest in me had revived. The interest indeed you had, but not the opportunity.
But I rejoice with a deep and holy joy that now at length you have revived your thoughtfulness for my welfare. Indeed you have always been thoughtful for me, although opportunity failed you.
11 Do not think that I am saying this under the pressure of want. For I, however I am placed, have learned to be independent of circumstances.
I do not refer to this through fear of privation, for (for my part) I have learned, whatever be my outward experiences, to be content.
12 I know how to face humble circumstances, and I know how to face prosperity. Into all and every human experience I have been initiated – into plenty and hunger, into prosperity and want.
I know both how to live in humble circumstances and how to live amid abundance. I am fully initiated into all the mysteries both of fulness and of hunger, of abundance and of want.
13 I can do everything through the strength of the one who makes me strong!
I have strength for anything through Him who gives me power.
14 Yet you have acted nobly in sharing my troubles.
Yet I thank you for taking your share in my troubles.
15 And you at Philippi know, as well as I, that in the early days of the good news – at the time when I had just left Macedonia – no church, with the one exception of yourselves, had anything to do with me as far as giving and receiving are concerned.
And you men and women of Philippi also know that at the first preaching of the Good News, when I had left Macedonia, no other Church except yourselves held communication with me about giving and receiving;
16 Indeed, even while I was still in Thessalonica, you sent more than once to relieve my wants.
because even in Thessalonica you sent several times to minister to my needs.
17 It is not that I am anxious for your gifts, but I am anxious to see the abundant return that will be placed to your account. I have enough of everything, and to spare.
Not that I crave for gifts from you, but I do want to see abundant fruit bring you honour.
18 My wants are fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts which you sent me – the sweet fragrance of a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
I have enough of everything--and more than enough. My wants are fully satisfied now that I have received from the hands of Epaphroditus the generous gifts which you sent me--they are a fragrant odor, an acceptable sacrifice, truly pleasing to God.
19 And my God, out of the greatness of his wealth, will, in glory, fully satisfy your every need, through your union with Christ Jesus.
But my God--so great is His wealth of glory in Christ Jesus--will fully supply every need of yours.
And to our God and Father be the glory throughout the Ages of the Ages! Amen. (aiōn g165)
21 Give my greeting to everyone of the people of Christ Jesus. The Lord’s followers who are with me send your their greetings.
My Christian greetings to every one of God's people. The brethren who are with me send their greetings.
22 All Christ’s people here, and especially those who belong to the Emperor’s household, send theirs.
All God's people here greet you--especially the members of Caesar's household.
23 May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ rest on your souls.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits.
