Philippians 3:1 Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.
2 Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved.
3 For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,
4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!
5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin-a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.
6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.
7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.
8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ
9 and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with Himself depends on faith.
10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death,
11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
12 I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.
13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.
16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.
17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.
21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control.
Ph. 4:1 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.
2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement.
3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice!
5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.
7 Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me-everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn't have the chance to help me.
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.
12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this.
16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once.
17 I don't say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
18 At the moment I have all I need-and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.
19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.
21 Give my greetings to each of God's holy people-all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings.
22 And all the rest of God's people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar's household.
23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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Psalms 30:1 A psalm of David. A song for the dedication of the Temple. I will exalt You, LORD, for You rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You restored my health.
3 You brought me up from the grave, O LORD. You kept me from falling into the pit of death.
4 Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise His holy name.
5 For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.
6 When I was prosperous, I said, "Nothing can stop me now!"
7 Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain. Then You turned away from me, and I was shattered.
8 I cried out to You, O LORD. I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
9 "What will You gain if I die, if I sink into the grave? Can my dust praise You? Can it tell of Your faithfulness?
10 Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD."
11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
12 that I might sing praises to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give You thanks forever!
Ps. 31:1 For the choir director: A psalm of David. O LORD, I have come to You for protection; don't let me be disgraced. Save me, for You do what is right.
2 Turn Your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe.
3 You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of Your name, lead me out of this danger.
4 Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in You alone.
5 I entrust my spirit into Your hand. Rescue me, LORD, for You are a faithful God.
6 I hate those who worship worthless idols. I trust in the LORD.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in Your unfailing love, for You have seen my troubles, and You care about the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place.
9 Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away.
10 I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within.
11 I am scorned by all my enemies and despised by my neighbors-even my friends are afraid to come near me. When they see me on the street, they run the other way.
12 I am ignored as if I were dead, as if I were a broken pot.
13 I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror. My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life.
14 But I am trusting You, O LORD, saying, "You are my God!"
15 My future is in Your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
16 Let Your favor shine on Your servant. In Your unfailing love, rescue me.
17 Don't let me be disgraced, O LORD, for I call out to You for help. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them lie silent in the grave.
18 Silence their lying lips-those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.
19 How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear You. You lavish it on those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world.
20 You hide them in the shelter of Your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in Your presence, far from accusing tongues.
21 Praise the LORD, for He has shown me the wonders of His unfailing love. He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
22 In panic I cried out, "I am cut off from the LORD!" But You heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help.
23 Love the LORD, all you godly ones! For the LORD protects those who are loyal to Him, but He harshly punishes the arrogant.
24 So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD!
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