Philippians 4 - Easy To Read Version

¹ My dear brothers and sisters, I love you and want to see you. You bring me joy and make me proud of you. Continue following the Lord like I have told you.

² I ask Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord.

³ And because you serve faithfully with me, my friend, I ask you to help these women do this. These women served with me in telling people the Good News. {\cf2\super [21]} They served together with Clement and the other people who worked with me. Their names are written in the book of life. {\cf2\super [22]}

⁴ Always be happy in the Lord. I will say it again. Be happy.

⁵ Let all people see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon.

⁶ Don’t worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks.

⁷ And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. That peace which God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.

⁸ Brothers and sisters, continue to think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.

⁹ And do the things that you learned and received from me. Do the things I told you and the things you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you.

¹⁰ I am very happy in the Lord that you have shown your care for me again. You continued to care about me, but there was no way for you to show it.

¹¹ I am telling you these things, but it is not because I need something. I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens.

¹² I know how to live when I am poor. And I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens. I have learned to be happy when I have enough to eat and when I don’t have enough to eat. I have learned to be happy when I have all the things I need and when I don’t have the things I need.

¹³ I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.

¹⁴ But it was good that you helped me when I needed help.

¹⁵ You people in Philippi remember when I first told the Good News {\cf2\super [23]} there. When I left Macedonia, you were the only church that gave me help.

¹⁶ Several times you sent me things I needed when I was in Thessalonica.

¹⁷ Really, it is not that I want to get gifts from you. But I want you to have the good that comes \{from giving\}.

¹⁸ I have all the things I need. I have even more than I need. I have all I need because Epaphroditus brought your gift to me. Your gift is like a sweet-smelling sacrifice {\cf2\super [24]} offered to God. God accepts that sacrifice and it pleases him.

¹⁹ My God is very rich with the glory of Christ Jesus. God will use his riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need.

²⁰ Glory to our God and Father forever and ever. Amen.

²¹ Say hello to each of God’s people in Christ. Those in God’s family who are with me say hello to you.

²² All of God’s people say hello to you. And those believers from Caesar’s {\cf2\super [25]} palace say hello, too.

²³ The grace (kindness) of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.