Philippians 1:1-26

New International Version

1 Paul and Timothy,^(A) servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people^(B) in Christ Jesus at Philippi,^(C) together with the overseers^(D) and deacons^[a]:^(E)

²Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(F)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³I thank my God every time I remember you.^(G) ⁴In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray^(H) with joy ⁵because of your partnership^(I) in the gospel from the first day^(J) until now, ⁶being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion^(K) until the day of Christ Jesus.^(L)

⁷It is right^(M) for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart^(N) and, whether I am in chains^(O) or defending^(P) and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. ⁸God can testify^(Q) how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

⁹And this is my prayer: that your love^(R) may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,^(S) ¹⁰so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,^(T) ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness^(U) that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel

¹²Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard^[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains^(V) for Christ. ¹⁴And because of my chains,^(W) most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.^(X)

¹⁵It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.^(Y) ¹⁷The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition,^(Z) not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.^(AA) ¹⁸But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹for I know that through your prayers^(AB) and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ^(AC) what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.^[d]^(AD) ²⁰I eagerly expect^(AE) and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage^(AF) so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,^(AG) whether by life or by death.^(AH) ²¹For to me, to live is Christ^(AI) and to die is gain. ²²If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³I am torn between the two: I desire to depart^(AJ) and be with Christ,^(AK) which is better by far; ²⁴but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

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Footnotes

Philippians 1:1 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Romans 16:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8,12.
Philippians 1:12 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 14; and in 3:1, 13, 17; 4:1, 8, 21.
Philippians 1:13 Or whole palace
Philippians 1:19 Or vindication; or salvation

Psalm 89

New International Version

Psalm 89^[a]

A maskil^[b] of Ethan the Ezrahite.

¹I will sing^(A) of the Lord’s great love forever;
    with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known^(B)
    through all generations.
²I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
    that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.^(C)
³You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
    I have sworn to David my servant,
⁴‘I will establish your line forever
    and make your throne firm through all generations.’”^[c]^(D)

⁵The heavens^(E) praise your wonders, Lord,
    your faithfulness too, in the assembly^(F) of the holy ones.
⁶For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
    Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?^(G)
⁷In the council^(H) of the holy ones^(I) God is greatly feared;
    he is more awesome than all who surround him.^(J)
⁸Who is like you,^(K) Lord God Almighty?^(L)
    You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

⁹You rule over the surging sea;
    when its waves mount up, you still them.^(M)
¹⁰You crushed Rahab^(N) like one of the slain;
    with your strong arm you scattered^(O) your enemies.
¹¹The heavens are yours,^(P) and yours also the earth;^(Q)
    you founded the world and all that is in it.^(R)
¹²You created the north and the south;
    Tabor^(S) and Hermon^(T) sing for joy^(U) at your name.
¹³Your arm is endowed with power;
    your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.^(V)

¹⁴Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;^(W)
    love and faithfulness go before you.^(X)
¹⁵Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
    who walk^(Y) in the light^(Z) of your presence, Lord.
¹⁶They rejoice in your name^(AA) all day long;
    they celebrate your righteousness.
¹⁷For you are their glory and strength,^(AB)
    and by your favor you exalt our horn.^[d]^(AC)
¹⁸Indeed, our shield^[e]^(AD) belongs to the Lord,
    our king^(AE) to the Holy One of Israel.

¹⁹Once you spoke in a vision,
    to your faithful people you said:
“I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
    I have raised up a young man from among the people.
²⁰I have found David^(AF) my servant;^(AG)
    with my sacred oil^(AH) I have anointed^(AI) him.
²¹My hand will sustain him;
    surely my arm will strengthen him.^(AJ)
²²The enemy will not get the better of him;^(AK)
    the wicked will not oppress^(AL) him.
²³I will crush his foes before him^(AM)
    and strike down his adversaries.^(AN)
²⁴My faithful love will be with him,^(AO)
    and through my name his horn^[f] will be exalted.
²⁵I will set his hand over the sea,
    his right hand over the rivers.^(AP)
²⁶He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,^(AQ)
    my God, the Rock^(AR) my Savior.’^(AS)
²⁷And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,^(AT)
    the most exalted^(AU) of the kings^(AV) of the earth.
²⁸I will maintain my love to him forever,
    and my covenant with him will never fail.^(AW)
²⁹I will establish his line forever,
    his throne as long as the heavens endure.^(AX)

³⁰“If his sons forsake my law
    and do not follow my statutes,
³¹if they violate my decrees
    and fail to keep my commands,
³²I will punish their sin with the rod,
    their iniquity with flogging;^(AY)
³³but I will not take my love from him,^(AZ)
    nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
³⁴I will not violate my covenant
    or alter what my lips have uttered.^(BA)
³⁵Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—
    and I will not lie to David—
³⁶that his line will continue forever
    and his throne endure before me like the sun;^(BB)
³⁷it will be established forever like the moon,
    the faithful witness in the sky.”^(BC)

³⁸But you have rejected,^(BD) you have spurned,
    you have been very angry with your anointed one.
³⁹You have renounced the covenant with your servant
    and have defiled his crown in the dust.^(BE)
⁴⁰You have broken through all his walls^(BF)
    and reduced his strongholds^(BG) to ruins.
⁴¹All who pass by have plundered^(BH) him;
    he has become the scorn of his neighbors.^(BI)
⁴²You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
    you have made all his enemies rejoice.^(BJ)
⁴³Indeed, you have turned back the edge of his sword
    and have not supported him in battle.^(BK)
⁴⁴You have put an end to his splendor
    and cast his throne to the ground.
⁴⁵You have cut short^(BL) the days of his youth;
    you have covered him with a mantle of shame.^(BM)

⁴⁶How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?
    How long will your wrath burn like fire?^(BN)
⁴⁷Remember how fleeting is my life.^(BO)
    For what futility you have created all humanity!
⁴⁸Who can live and not see death,
    or who can escape the power of the grave?^(BP)
⁴⁹Lord, where is your former great love,
    which in your faithfulness you swore to David?
⁵⁰Remember, Lord, how your servant has^[g] been mocked,^(BQ)
    how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,
⁵¹the taunts with which your enemies, Lord, have mocked,
    with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.^(BR)

⁵²Praise be to the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.^(BS)

Footnotes

Psalm 89:1 In Hebrew texts 89:1-52 is numbered 89:2-53.
Psalm 89:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 89:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 37, 45 and 48.
Psalm 89:17 Horn here symbolizes strong one.
Psalm 89:18 Or sovereign
Psalm 89:24 Horn here symbolizes strength.
Psalm 89:50 Or your servants have