Philippians 1:12-30

New International Version

Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel

¹²Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^[a] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard^[b] and to everyone else that I am in chains^(A) for Christ. ¹⁴And because of my chains,^(B) most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.^(C)

¹⁵It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.^(D) ¹⁷The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition,^(E) not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.^(F) ¹⁸But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹for I know that through your prayers^(G) and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ^(H) what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.^[c]^(I) ²⁰I eagerly expect^(J) and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage^(K) so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,^(L) whether by life or by death.^(M) ²¹For to me, to live is Christ^(N) and to die is gain. ²²If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³I am torn between the two: I desire to depart^(O) and be with Christ,^(P) which is better by far; ²⁴but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Life Worthy of the Gospel

²⁷Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy^(Q) of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm^(R) in the one Spirit,^[d] striving together^(S) as one for the faith of the gospel ²⁸without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. ²⁹For it has been granted to you^(T) on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer^(U) for him, ³⁰since you are going through the same struggle^(V) you saw^(W) I had, and now hear^(X) that I still have.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

Philippians 1:12 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 14; and in 3:1, 13, 17; 4:1, 8, 21.
Philippians 1:13 Or whole palace
Philippians 1:19 Or vindication; or salvation
Philippians 1:27 Or in one spirit

Ezekiel 19

New International Version

A Lament Over Israel’s Princes

19 “Take up a lament^(A) concerning the princes^(B) of Israel ²and say:

“‘What a lioness^(C) was your mother
    among the lions!
She lay down among them
    and reared her cubs.^(D)
³She brought up one of her cubs,
    and he became a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
    and he became a man-eater.
⁴The nations heard about him,
    and he was trapped in their pit.
They led him with hooks^(E)
    to the land of Egypt.^(F)

⁵“‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled,
    her expectation gone,
she took another of her cubs^(G)
    and made him a strong lion.^(H)
⁶He prowled among the lions,
    for he was now a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
    and he became a man-eater.^(I)
⁷He broke down^[a] their strongholds
    and devastated^(J) their towns.
The land and all who were in it
    were terrified by his roaring.
⁸Then the nations^(K) came against him,
    those from regions round about.
They spread their net^(L) for him,
    and he was trapped in their pit.^(M)
⁹With hooks^(N) they pulled him into a cage
    and brought him to the king of Babylon.^(O)
They put him in prison,
    so his roar^(P) was heard no longer
    on the mountains of Israel.^(Q)

¹⁰“‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard^[b]^(R)
    planted by the water;^(S)
it was fruitful and full of branches
    because of abundant water.^(T)
¹¹Its branches were strong,
    fit for a ruler’s scepter.
It towered high
    above the thick foliage,
conspicuous for its height
    and for its many branches.^(U)
¹²But it was uprooted^(V) in fury
    and thrown to the ground.
The east wind^(W) made it shrivel,
    it was stripped of its fruit;
its strong branches withered
    and fire consumed them.^(X)
¹³Now it is planted in the desert,^(Y)
    in a dry and thirsty land.^(Z)
¹⁴Fire spread from one of its main^[c] branches
    and consumed^(AA) its fruit.
No strong branch is left on it
    fit for a ruler’s scepter.’^(AB)

“This is a lament^(AC) and is to be used as a lament.”

Footnotes

Ezekiel 19:7 Targum (see Septuagint); Hebrew He knew
Ezekiel 19:10 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts your blood
Ezekiel 19:14 Or from under its

Isaiah 48

New International Version

Stubborn Israel

48 “Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob,
    you who are called by the name of Israel^(A)
    and come from the line of Judah,^(B)
you who take oaths^(C) in the name of the Lord^(D)
    and invoke^(E) the God of Israel—
    but not in truth^(F) or righteousness—
²you who call yourselves citizens of the holy city^(G)
    and claim to rely^(H) on the God of Israel—
    the Lord Almighty is his name:^(I)
³I foretold the former things^(J) long ago,
    my mouth announced^(K) them and I made them known;
    then suddenly^(L) I acted, and they came to pass.
⁴For I knew how stubborn^(M) you were;
    your neck muscles^(N) were iron,
    your forehead^(O) was bronze.
⁵Therefore I told you these things long ago;
    before they happened I announced^(P) them to you
so that you could not say,
    ‘My images brought them about;^(Q)
    my wooden image and metal god ordained them.’
⁶You have heard these things; look at them all.
    Will you not admit them?

“From now on I will tell you of new things,^(R)
    of hidden things unknown to you.
⁷They are created^(S) now, and not long ago;^(T)
    you have not heard of them before today.
So you cannot say,
    ‘Yes, I knew^(U) of them.’
⁸You have neither heard nor understood;^(V)
    from of old your ears^(W) have not been open.
Well do I know how treacherous^(X) you are;
    you were called a rebel^(Y) from birth.
⁹For my own name’s sake^(Z) I delay my wrath;^(AA)
    for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you,
    so as not to destroy you completely.^(AB)
¹⁰See, I have refined^(AC) you, though not as silver;
    I have tested^(AD) you in the furnace^(AE) of affliction.
¹¹For my own sake,^(AF) for my own sake, I do this.
    How can I let myself be defamed?^(AG)
    I will not yield my glory to another.^(AH)

Israel Freed

¹²“Listen^(AI) to me, Jacob,
    Israel, whom I have called:^(AJ)
I am he;^(AK)
    I am the first and I am the last.^(AL)
¹³My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,^(AM)
    and my right hand spread out the heavens;^(AN)
when I summon them,
    they all stand up together.^(AO)

¹⁴“Come together,^(AP) all of you, and listen:
    Which of the idols has foretold^(AQ) these things?
The Lord’s chosen ally^(AR)
    will carry out his purpose^(AS) against Babylon;^(AT)
    his arm will be against the Babylonians.^[a]
¹⁵I, even I, have spoken;
    yes, I have called^(AU) him.
I will bring him,
    and he will succeed^(AV) in his mission.

¹⁶“Come near^(AW) me and listen^(AX) to this:

“From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret;^(AY)
at the time it happens, I am there.”

And now the Sovereign Lord^(AZ) has sent^(BA) me,
endowed with his Spirit.^(BB)

¹⁷This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer,^(BC) the Holy One^(BD) of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
    who teaches^(BE) you what is best for you,
    who directs^(BF) you in the way^(BG) you should go.
¹⁸If only you had paid attention^(BH) to my commands,
    your peace^(BI) would have been like a river,^(BJ)
    your well-being^(BK) like the waves of the sea.
¹⁹Your descendants^(BL) would have been like the sand,^(BM)
    your children like its numberless grains;^(BN)
their name would never be blotted out^(BO)
    nor destroyed from before me.”

²⁰Leave Babylon,
    flee^(BP) from the Babylonians!
Announce this with shouts of joy^(BQ)
    and proclaim it.
Send it out to the ends of the earth;^(BR)
    say, “The Lord has redeemed^(BS) his servant Jacob.”
²¹They did not thirst^(BT) when he led them through the deserts;
    he made water flow^(BU) for them from the rock;
he split the rock
    and water gushed out.^(BV)