| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, | 1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, |
| 2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. | 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. |
| 3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. | 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, |
| 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. | 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. |
| 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: | 5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: |
| 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: | 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; |
| 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: | 7rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. |
| 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. | 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-- even death on a cross! |
| 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: | 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, |
| 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; | 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, |
| 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. | 11and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
| 12Wherefore, 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. | 12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, |
| 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. | 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. |
| 14Do all things without murmurings and disputings: | 14Do everything without grumbling or arguing, |
| 15That 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; | 15so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation." Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky |
| 16Holding 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. | 16as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. |
| 17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. | 17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. |
| 18For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. | 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. |
| 19But 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. | 19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. |
| 20For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. | 20I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. |
| 21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. | 21For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. |
| 22But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. | 22But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. |
| 23Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. | 23I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. |
| 24But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. | 24And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. |
| 25Yet 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. | 25But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. |
| 26For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. | 26For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. |
| 27For 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. | 27Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. |
| 28I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. | 28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. |
| 29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: | 29So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, |
| 30Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. | 30because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me. |
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