Philippians 4
4
Remain Strong in the Lord
1My brothers and sisters, in this way remain strong in the Lord. I love you and long for you. Dear friends, you are my joy and my crown.
2Here is what I’m asking Euodia and Syntyche to do. I’m asking them to work together in the Lord. That’s because they both belong to the Lord. 3My true companion, here is what I ask you to do. Help these women, because they have served at my side. They have worked with me to spread the good news. So have Clement and the rest of those who have worked together with me. Their names are all written in the book of life.
Final Commands
4Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful! 5Let everyone know how gentle you are. The Lord is coming soon. 6Don’t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything. Ask and pray, and give thanks to him. 7Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds. He will do this because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can never be completely understood.
8Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things. 9Do what you have learned or received or heard from me. Follow my example. The God who gives peace will be with you.
Paul Gives Thanks for the Philippians’ Gifts
10At last you are concerned about me again. That makes me very happy. We belong to the Lord. I know that you were concerned. But you had no chance to show it. 11I’m not saying this because I need anything. I have learned to be content no matter what happens to me. 12I know what it’s like not to have what I need. I also know what it’s like to have more than I need. I have learned the secret of being content no matter what happens. I am content whether I am well fed or hungry. I am content whether I have more than enough or not enough. 13I can do all this by the power of Christ. He gives me strength.
14But it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15And you believers at Philippi know what happened when I left Macedonia. Not one church helped me in the matter of giving and receiving. You were the only one that did. That was in the early days when you first heard the good news. 16Even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help when I needed it. And you did it more than once. 17It is not that I want your gifts. What I really want is what is best for you. 18I have received my full pay and have more than enough. I have everything I need. That’s because Epaphroditus brought me the gifts you sent. They are a sweet-smelling offering. They are a gift that God accepts. He is pleased with it. 19My God will meet all your needs. He will meet them in keeping with his wonderful riches. These riches come to you because you belong to Christ Jesus.
20Give glory to our God and Father for ever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
21Greet all God’s people. They belong to Christ Jesus.
The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings.
22All God’s people here send you greetings. Most of all, those who live in the palace of Caesar send you greetings.
23May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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Philippians 4
4
1Dear friends, I love you and long to see you. Please keep on being faithful to the Lord. You are my pride and joy.
Paul Encourages the Lord's Followers
2Euodia and Syntyche, you belong to the Lord, so I beg you to stop arguing with each other. 3And, my true partner,#4.3 partner: Or “Syzygus,” a person's name. I ask you to help them. These women have worked together with me and with Clement and with the others in spreading the good news. Their names are now written in the book of life.#4.3 the book of life: A book in which the names of God's people are written.
4Always be glad because of the Lord! I will say it again: Be glad. 5Always be gentle with others. The Lord will soon be here. 6Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.
8Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. 9You know the teachings I gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example. And God, who gives peace, will be with you.
Paul Gives Thanks for the Gifts He Was Given
10The Lord has made me very grateful that at last you have thought about me once again. Actually, you were thinking about me all along, but you didn't have any chance to show it. 11I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with#4.11 be satisfied with: Or “get by on.” whatever I have. 12I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little. 13Christ gives me the strength to face anything.
14It was good of you to help me when I was having such a hard time. 15#2 Co 11.9. My friends at Philippi, you remember what it was like when I started preaching the good news in Macedonia.#4.15 when I started preaching the good news in Macedonia: Paul is talking about his first visit to Philippi (see Acts 16.12-40). After I left there, you were the only church that became my partner by giving blessings and by receiving them in return. 16#Ac 17.1. Even when I was in Thessalonica, you helped me more than once. 17I am not trying to get something from you, but I want you to receive the blessings that come from giving.
18 #
Ex 29.18. I have been paid back everything, and with interest. I am completely satisfied with the gifts you sent with Epaphroditus. They are like a sweet-smelling offering or like the right kind of sacrifice that pleases God. 19I pray that God will take care of all your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus! 20May God our Father be praised forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
21Give my greetings to all who are God's people because of Christ Jesus.
The Lord's followers here with me send you their greetings.
22All of God's people send their greetings, especially those in the service of the Emperor.
23I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless your life!
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