⁴ Rejoice^[a] in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.^{[b](A) 5} Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.^{(B) 6} Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.^{(C) 7} And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.^(D)

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about^[c] these things. ⁹ As for the things that you have learned and received and heard and noticed in me, do them, and the God of peace will be with you.^(E)

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.^{(A) 12} The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.^{(B) 13} The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.^{(C) 17} For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes^[a] it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”