Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. | Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. |
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. | Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! |
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Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. | Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. |
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in 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, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about 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. |
Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will 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 what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in 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 him who strengthens me. | For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. |
And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in 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. |
To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. | Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen. |
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. | May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. |
I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by 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 through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance. | 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, living is Christ and dying is gain. | For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. |
I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary 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 he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well. | For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. |
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. | Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. |
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. | You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. |
Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a 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. |
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and 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 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 murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. It is by your holding fast to 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. |
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in 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 on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call 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. |
But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, 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. |