Philippians 3-4

English Standard Version

Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

3 Finally, my brothers,^[a] ^(A)rejoice in the Lord. ^(B)To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

²Look out for ^(C)the dogs, look out for ^(D)the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³For ^(E)we are the circumcision, ^(F)who worship ^(G)by the Spirit of God^[b] and ^(H)glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— ⁴^(I)though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵^(J)circumcised on the eighth day, ^(K)of the people of Israel, ^(L)of the tribe of Benjamin, ^(M)a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, ^(N)a Pharisee; ⁶^(O)as to zeal, ^(P)a persecutor of the church; ^(Q)as to righteousness under the law,^[c] blameless. ⁷But ^(R)whatever gain I had, ^(S)I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸Indeed, I count everything as loss because of ^(T)the surpassing worth of ^(U)knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I ^(V)have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having ^(W)a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but ^(X)that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰^(Y)that I may know him and ^(Z)the power of his resurrection, and ^(AA)may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹that by any means possible I may ^(AB)attain the resurrection from the dead.

Straining Toward the Goal

¹²Not that I have already ^(AC)obtained this or ^(AD)am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: ^(AE)forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal for ^(AF)the prize of the upward ^(AG)call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Let those of us who are ^(AH)mature think this way, and if in anything ^(AI)you think otherwise, ^(AJ)God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶Only ^(AK)let us hold true to what we have attained.

¹⁷Brothers, ^(AL)join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk ^(AM)according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸For ^(AN)many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you ^(AO)even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹^(AP)Their end is destruction, ^(AQ)their god is their belly, and ^(AR)they glory in their shame, with ^(AS)minds set on earthly things. ²⁰But ^(AT)our citizenship is in heaven, and ^(AU)from it we ^(AV)await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who will transform ^(AW)our lowly body ^(AX)to be like his glorious body, ^(AY)by the power that enables him even ^(AZ)to subject all things to himself.

4 Therefore, my brothers,^[d] whom I love and ^(BA)long for, ^(BB)my joy and ^(BC)crown, ^(BD)stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Exhortation, Encouragement, and Prayer

²I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to ^(BE)agree in the Lord. ³Yes, I ask you also, true companion,^[e] help these women, who have labored^[f] side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, ^(BF)whose names are in the book of life.

⁴^(BG)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵Let your reasonableness^[g] be known to everyone. ^(BH)The Lord is at hand; ⁶^(BI)do not be anxious about anything, ^(BJ)but in everything by prayer and supplication ^(BK)with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And ^(BL)the peace of God, ^(BM)which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹What you have learned^[h] and ^(BN)received and heard and seen ^(BO)in me—practice these things, and ^(BP)the God of peace will be with you.

God's Provision

¹⁰I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length ^(BQ)you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ¹¹Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be ^(BR)content. ¹²I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and ^(BS)hunger, abundance and ^(BT)need. ¹³I can do all things ^(BU)through him who strengthens me.

¹⁴Yet it was kind of you ^(BV)to share^[i] my trouble. ¹⁵And you Philippians yourselves know that ^(BW)in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, ^(BX)no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. ¹⁶Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. ¹⁷^(BY)Not that I seek the gift, but I seek ^(BZ)the fruit that increases to your credit.^[j] ¹⁸I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, ^(CA)having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, ^(CB)a fragrant offering, ^(CC)a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹And my God ^(CD)will supply every need of yours ^(CE)according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰To ^(CF)our God and Father be ^(CG)glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

²¹Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. ^(CH)The brothers who are with me greet you. ²²^(CI)All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.

²³^(CJ)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Footnotes

Philippians 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 13, 17
Philippians 3:3 Some manuscripts God in spirit
Philippians 3:6 Greek in the law
Philippians 4:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 8, 21
Philippians 4:3 Or loyal Syzygus; Greek true yokefellow
Philippians 4:3 Or strived (see 1:27)
Philippians 4:5 Or gentleness
Philippians 4:9 Or these things—⁹which things you have also learned
Philippians 4:14 Or have fellowship in
Philippians 4:17 Or I seek the profit that accrues to your account

Proverbs 24

English Standard Version

24 Be not ^(A)envious of evil men,
nor desire to be ^(B)with them,
²for their hearts ^(C)devise violence,
and their lips ^(D)talk of trouble.

³By ^(E)wisdom a house is built,
    and by understanding it is established;
⁴by knowledge the rooms are filled
    with all ^(F)precious and pleasant riches.
⁵^(G)A wise man is full of strength,
    and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
⁶for by ^(H)wise guidance you can wage your war,
    and in ^(I)abundance of counselors there is victory.
⁷Wisdom is ^(J)too high for a fool;
    in ^(K)the gate he does not open his mouth.

⁸Whoever ^(L)plans to do evil
will be called a schemer.
⁹^(M)The devising^[a] of folly is sin,
and ^(N)the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

¹⁰If you ^(O)faint in the day of adversity,
    your strength is small.
¹¹^(P)Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
    hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
¹²If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
    ^(Q)does not he who ^(R)weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who ^(S)keeps watch over your soul know it,
    and will he not repay man ^(T)according to his work?

¹³My son, ^(U)eat honey, for it is good,
    and ^(V)the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
¹⁴Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
    if you find it, there will be ^(W)a future,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁵^(X)Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;
do no violence to his home;
¹⁶^(Y)for the righteous falls ^(Z)seven times and rises again,
but ^(AA)the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

¹⁷^(AB)Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
¹⁸lest the Lord see it and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.

¹⁹^(AC)Fret not yourself because of evildoers,
and be not ^(AD)envious of the wicked,
²⁰for the evil man has no ^(AE)future;
^(AF)the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

²¹My son, ^(AG)fear the Lord and the king,
and do not join with those who do otherwise,
²²for disaster will arise suddenly from them,
and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

More Sayings of the Wise

²³These also are sayings of ^(AH)the wise.

^(AI)Partiality in judging is not good.
²⁴Whoever ^(AJ)says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
    ^(AK)will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
²⁵but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
    and a good blessing will come upon them.
²⁶Whoever gives an honest answer
    kisses the lips.

²⁷^(AL)Prepare your work outside;
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house.

²⁸^(AM)Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips.
²⁹Do not say, ^(AN)“I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

³⁰^(AO)I passed by the field of a sluggard,
    by the vineyard of a man ^(AP)lacking sense,
³¹and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
    the ground was covered with nettles,
    and its stone ^(AQ)wall was broken down.
³²Then I saw and ^(AR)considered it;
    I looked and received instruction.
³³^(AS)A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
³⁴and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want like an armed man.