Philippians 3:1-4:3

New International Version

No Confidence in the Flesh

3 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again,^(A) and it is a safeguard for you. ²Watch out for those dogs,^(B) those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. ³For it is we who are the circumcision,^(C) we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus,^(D) and who put no confidence in the flesh— ⁴though I myself have reasons for such confidence.^(E)

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵circumcised^(F) on the eighth day, of the people of Israel,^(G) of the tribe of Benjamin,^(H) a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;^(I) ⁶as for zeal,^(J) persecuting the church;^(K) as for righteousness based on the law,^(L) faultless.

⁷But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss^(M) for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing^(N) Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ^(O) ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,^(P) but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness^(Q) that comes from God on the basis of faith.^(R) ¹⁰I want to know^(S) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,^(T) becoming like him in his death,^(U) ¹¹and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection^(V) from the dead.

¹²Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,^(W) but I press on to take hold^(X) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.^(Y) ¹³Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind^(Z) and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on^(AA) toward the goal to win the prize^(AB) for which God has called^(AC) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

¹⁵All of us, then, who are mature^(AD) should take such a view of things.^(AE) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.^(AF) ¹⁶Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

¹⁷Join together in following my example,^(AG) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.^(AH) ¹⁸For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,^(AI) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.^(AJ) ¹⁹Their destiny^(AK) is destruction, their god is their stomach,^(AL) and their glory is in their shame.^(AM) Their mind is set on earthly things.^(AN) ²⁰But our citizenship^(AO) is in heaven.^(AP) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,^(AQ) ²¹who, by the power^(AR) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies^(AS) so that they will be like his glorious body.^(AT)

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for,^(AU) my joy and crown, stand firm^(AV) in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

²I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind^(AW) in the Lord. ³Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers,^(AX) whose names are in the book of life.^(AY)

Footnotes

Philippians 3:9 Or through the faithfulness of

Proverbs 11

New International Version

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,^(A)
but accurate weights find favor with him.^(B)

²When pride comes, then comes disgrace,^(C)
but with humility comes wisdom.^(D)

³The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.^(E)

⁴Wealth^(F) is worthless in the day of wrath,^(G)
but righteousness delivers from death.^(H)

⁵The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,^(I)
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.^(J)

⁶The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.^(K)

⁷Hopes placed in mortals die with them;^(L)
all the promise of^[a] their power comes to nothing.^(M)

⁸The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
and it falls on the wicked instead.^(N)

⁹With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.^(O)

¹⁰When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;^(P)
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.^(Q)

¹¹Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,^(R)
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.^(S)

¹²Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,^(T)
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.^(U)

¹³A gossip betrays a confidence,^(V)
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.^(W)

¹⁴For lack of guidance a nation falls,^(X)
but victory is won through many advisers.^(Y)

¹⁵Whoever puts up security^(Z) for a stranger will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.^(AA)

¹⁶A kindhearted woman gains honor,^(AB)
but ruthless men gain only wealth.

¹⁷Those who are kind benefit themselves,
but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

¹⁸A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.^(AC)

¹⁹Truly the righteous attain life,^(AD)
but whoever pursues evil finds death.^(AE)

²⁰The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,^(AF)
but he delights^(AG) in those whose ways are blameless.^(AH)

²¹Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.^(AI)

²²Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

²³The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

²⁴One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

²⁵A generous^(AJ) person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.^(AK)

²⁶People curse the one who hoards grain,
but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

²⁷Whoever seeks good finds favor,
but evil comes to one who searches for it.^(AL)

²⁸Those who trust in their riches will fall,^(AM)
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.^(AN)

²⁹Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.^(AO)

³⁰The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,^(AP)
and the one who is wise saves lives.

³¹If the righteous receive their due^(AQ) on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Footnotes

Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from