Philippians 3

1Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not irksome, but for you it is safe.

1Finally, my brothers and sisters, be joyful in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

2Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision:

2Watch out for those 'dogs,' those people who do evil, those who insist on cutting the body.

3for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh:

3For we are the ones who are truly circumcised. We worship God by his Spirit, we take pride in Christ Jesus, and we do not put our trust in human effort or ceremonies.

4though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if any other man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more:

4In fact, if anyone could have confidence in human qualifications, I could. If others think they have reasons to trust in their own background, I have even more.

5circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

5I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew. As for following the Jewish law, I was a Pharisee.

6as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.

6I was so devoted that I persecuted the church. As for the righteousness that comes from obeying the law, I was faultless.

7Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.

7But all these things that were once important to me, I now consider a total loss because of Christ.

8Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ,

8Yes, 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.

9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith:

9I want to be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from obeying the law, but the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is based on faith.

10that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death;

10I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him and become like him in his death,

11if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead.

11so that, one way or another, I will experience the resurrection from the dead.

12Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.

12I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or have already reached perfection. But I keep pressing on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus first took hold of me.

13Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,

13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have reached it yet. But I do focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

14I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

14I press on toward the finish line to receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you:

15All of us who are spiritually mature should think this way. If you disagree on some point, God will make the truth clear to you.

16only, whereunto we have attained, by that same rule let us walk.

16However, we must continue to live by the same standard we have already attained.

17Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample.

17Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and pay close attention to those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

18For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

18For I have told you many times before, and I say it again now with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose lives make them enemies of the cross of Christ.

19whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

19They are headed for destruction. Their god is their own physical appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.

20For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

20But we are citizens of heaven, and we are eagerly waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from there.

21who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.

21He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them to be like his own glorious body, using the same power that he uses to bring everything under his control.