Philippians 2

1 If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

So then, if you're encouraged by being in Christ, if you're comforted by his love, if you share together in the Spirit, if you have compassion and sympathy—

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind.

then make my joy complete by thinking the same way and loving the same way, spiritually united and having one purpose.

3 [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Don't do anything from a spirit of selfishness or pride, but humbly think of others better than you do of yourself.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

None of you should be preoccupied about your own things—instead concern yourself with the interests of others too.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

The attitude you should have is the same as that of Christ Jesus.

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Though in his nature he was always God, he wasn't concerned to cling on to his equality with God.

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Instead he emptied himself, taking the nature of a servant, becoming like a human being.

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Coming in human form, humbling himself, he submitted himself to death—even death on a cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

That's why God placed him in the position of greatest honor and power, and gave him the most prestigious name—

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;

so that in the name of Jesus everyone should bow in respect, whether in heaven or on earth or under the earth,

11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

and all will declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

So, my good friends, continue to work towards the goal of salvation with complete reverence and respect for God, following what you were told—not just when I was with you, but even more so now I'm away from you.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.

For it's God who is working within you, creating the will and the ability to do what he wants you to do.

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Do everything without complaining or arguing

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

so that you'll be sincere, innocent of any wrong. Be God's blameless children living in the middle of a dishonest and corrupt people. Shine among them as lights to the world,

16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

holding out to them the word of life. That way I'll have something to be proud of when Christ returns, proving I didn't run around and work for nothing!

17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

So even if I pour out my life as a sacrifice and offering so you may trust in God, I'm happy for it, and I'm glad together with all of you,

18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

just as you have such joy and are glad with me.

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.

I'm hoping, if that's what the Lord Jesus wants, to send Timothy to you soon. It will cheer me up once I know how you're doing.

20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

I don't know anyone who genuinely cares about you as he does.

21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

Other people only worry about their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

But you already know what he's like—just as a child working to help his father, so he's worked with me to spread the good news.

23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

So I hope to send him as soon as I see how I'm doing,

24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.

and I trust in the Lord that shortly I'll be able to come too.

25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

But I thought it was important to send Epaphroditus to you. He's a brother to me, a co-worker and fellow-soldier. He's the one you sent to look after me,

26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

and he's been longing to see all of you, worried about you because you'd heard he was sick.

27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

He certainly was sick—he nearly died—but God had mercy on him. Not just on him, but on me too, so that I wouldn't have tragedy upon tragedy.

28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

That's why I'm so keen to send him, so that when you see him you'll be happy, and I won't have to be so anxious.

29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:

So welcome him with much happiness in the Lord—honor people like him,

30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

because in working for Christ he nearly died, putting his life on the line to make up for the help you weren't in a position to give me.