2 Chronicles 11:1-13

New International Version

11 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem,^(A) he mustered Judah and Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand able young men—to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam.

²But this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah^(B) the man of God: ³“Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, ⁴‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites.^(C) Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the words of the Lord and turned back from marching against Jeroboam.

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

⁵Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defense in Judah: ⁶Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, ⁷Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam, ⁸Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, ⁹Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, ¹⁰Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. These were fortified cities^(D) in Judah and Benjamin. ¹¹He strengthened their defenses and put commanders in them, with supplies of food, olive oil and wine. ¹²He put shields and spears in all the cities, and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin were his.

¹³The priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel sided with him.

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Philippians 2:3-18

New International Version

³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.^(A) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,^(B) ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.^(C)

⁵In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:^(D)

⁶Who, being in very nature^[a] God,^(E)
    did not consider equality with God^(F) something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷rather, he made himself nothing^(G)
    by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,^(H)
    being made in human likeness.^(I)
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death^(J)—
        even death on a cross!^(K)

⁹Therefore God exalted him^(L) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,^(M)
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,^(N)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,^(O)
¹¹and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,^(P)
    to the glory of God the Father.

Do Everything Without Grumbling

¹²Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,^(Q) ¹³for it is God who works in you^(R) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.^(S)

¹⁴Do everything without grumbling^(T) or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may become blameless^(U) and pure, “children of God^(V) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”^[c]^(W) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ^(X) that I did not run^(Y) or labor in vain.^(Z) ¹⁷But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering^(AA) on the sacrifice^(AB) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.^(AC) ¹⁸So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.