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Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God,[a]
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b];
    he took the humble position of a slave[c]
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,[d]
    he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:6 Or Being in the form of God.
  2. 2:7a Greek he emptied himself.
  3. 2:7b Or the form of a slave.
  4. 2:7c Some English translations put this phrase in verse 8.

Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of others as being better than yourselves. Do not be concerned about your own interests, but also be concerned about[a] the interests of others. Have the same attitude among yourselves[b] that was also in the Messiah[c] Jesus:[d]

In God’s own form existed he,
    and shared with God equality,
        deemed nothing needed grasping.
Instead, poured out in emptiness,
    a servant’s form did he possess,
        a mortal man becoming.
In human form he chose to be,
and lived in all humility,
        death on a cross obeying.
Now lifted up by God to heaven,
    a name above all others given,
        this matchless name possessing.
10 And so, when Jesus’ name is called,
    the knees of everyone should fall,[e]
        wherever they’re residing.[f]
11 Then every tongue in one accord,
    will say that Jesus the Messiah[g] is Lord,
        while God the Father praising.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:4 The Gk. lacks be concerned about
  2. Philippians 2:5 Or Have this mind in you
  3. Philippians 2:5 Or Christ
  4. Philippians 2:5 Verses 6-11 probably represent an early Christian hymn.
  5. Philippians 2:10 Or every knee should bend
  6. Philippians 2:10 Lit. in heaven, on earth, and under the earth
  7. Philippians 2:11 Or Christ