Philippians, 2

1. So if in Christ there is anything that will move you, any incentive in love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any warmth or sympathy -- I appeal to you,

1. So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

2. make my joy complete by being of a single mind, one in love, one in heart and one in mind.

2. complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

3. Nothing is to be done out of jealousy or vanity; instead, out of humility of mind everyone should give preference to others,

3. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves.

4. everyone pursuing not selfish interests but those of others.

4. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5. Make your own the mind of Christ Jesus:

5. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

6. Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped.

6. who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7. But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being,

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

8. he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.

8. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

9. And for this God raised him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names;

9. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,

10. so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus

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

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

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

12. So, my dear friends, you have always been obedient; your obedience must not be limited to times when I am present. Now that I am absent it must be more in evidence, so work out your salvation in fear and trembling.

12. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

13. It is God who, for his own generous purpose, gives you the intention and the powers to act.

13. for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14. Let your behaviour be free of murmuring and complaining

14. Do all things without grumbling or questioning,

15. so that you remain faultless and pure, unspoilt children of God surrounded by a deceitful and underhand brood, shining out among them like bright stars in the world,

15. that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

16. proffering to it the Word of life. Then I shall have reason to be proud on the Day of Christ, for it will not be for nothing that I have run the race and toiled so hard.

16. holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

17. Indeed, even if my blood has to be poured as a libation over your sacrifice and the offering of your faith, then I shall be glad and join in your rejoicing-

17. Even if I am to be poured as a libation upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

18. and in the same way, you must be glad and join in my rejoicing.

18. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

19. I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you soon, so that my mind may be set at rest when I hear how you are.

19. I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you.

20. There is nobody else that I can send who is like him and cares as sincerely for your well-being;

20. I have no one like him, who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare.

21. they all want to work for themselves, not for Jesus Christ.

21. They all look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

22. But you know what sort of person he has proved himself, working with me for the sake of the gospel like a son with his father.

22. But Timothy's worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.

23. That is the man, then, that I am hoping to send to you immediately I can make out what is going to happen to me;

23. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me;

24. but I am confident in the Lord that I shall come myself, too, before long.

24. and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself shall come also.

25. Nevertheless I thought it essential to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and companion-in-arms since he came as your representative to look after my needs;

25. I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphrodi'tus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need,

26. because he was missing you all and was worrying because you had heard that he was ill.

26. for he has been longing for you all, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.

27. Indeed he was seriously ill and nearly died; but God took pity on him -- and not only on him but also on me, to spare me one grief on top of another.

27. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

28. So I am sending him back as promptly as I can so that you will have the joy of seeing him again, and that will be some comfort to me in my distress.

28. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.

29. Welcome him in the Lord, then, with all joy; hold people like him in honour,

29. So receive him in the Lord with all joy; and honor such men,

30. because it was for Christ's work that he came so near to dying, risking his life to do the duty to me which you could not do yourselves.

30. for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete your service to me.