| Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. | Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. |
| Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. | Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! |
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| Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. | Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. |
| Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. | Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. |
| Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. | And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. |
| Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. | Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. |
| I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. | I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. |
| I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. | For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. |
| But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. | And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. |
| Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. | Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen. |
| The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. | May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. |
| Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. | And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. |
| For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. | For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. |
| For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. | For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. |
| For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. | I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. |
| For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. | For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. |
| Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. | Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. |
| Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. | You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. |
| Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. | Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. |
| Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. | Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. |
| And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. | And every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
| Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life. | Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life. |
| That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. | I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death. |
| I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. | I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. |
| For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. | But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. |
