Righteousness Through Faith in Christ
1 Finally, my brothers,1 krejoice in the Lord. lTo write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
2 Look out for mthe dogs, look out for nthe evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For owe are the circumcision, pwho worship qby the Spirit of God2 and rglory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 sthough I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 tcircumcised on the eighth day, uof the people of Israel, vof the tribe of Benjamin, ua Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, wa Pharisee; 6 xas to zeal, ya persecutor of the church; zas to righteousness under the law,3 blameless. 7 But awhatever gain I had, bI counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of cthe surpassing worth of dknowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I ehave suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having fa righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but gthat which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 hthat I may know him and ithe power of his resurrection, and jmay share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may kattain the resurrection from the dead.
Straining Toward the Goal
12 Not that I have already lobtained this or mam already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: nforgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for othe prize of the upward pcall of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are qmature think this way, and if in anything ryou think otherwise, sGod will reveal that also to you. 16 Only tlet us hold true to what we have attained.
17 Brothers, ujoin in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk vaccording to the example you have in us. 18 For wmany, of whom I have often told you and now tell you xeven with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 yTheir end is destruction, ztheir god is their belly, and athey glory in their shame, with bminds set on earthly things. 20 But cour citizenship is in heaven, and dfrom it we eawait a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform four lowly body gto be like his glorious body, hby the power that enables him even ito subject all things to himself.
More Proverbs of Solomon
1 These also are mproverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.
2 It is the glory of God to nconceal things,
but the glory of kings is to osearch things out.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is punsearchable.
4 Take away qthe dross from the silver,
and rthe smith has material for a vessel;
5 take away sthe wicked from the presence of the king,
and his tthrone will be established in righteousness.
6 Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
or stand in the place of the great,
7 for uit is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
What your eyes have seen
8 wdo not hastily bring into court,1
for2 what will you do in the end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 xArgue your case with your neighbor himself,
and do not reveal another’s secret,
10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute have no end.
11 yA word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
12 Like za gold ring or an ornament of gold
is a wise reprover to aa listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
is ba faithful messenger to those who send him;
he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Like cclouds and wind without rain
is a man who dboasts of a gift he does not give.
15 With epatience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
16 If you have ffound honey, eat gonly enough for you,
lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
18 A man who hbears false witness against his neighbor
is like a war club, or ia sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
20 Whoever jsings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on soda.
21 kIf your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for you will heap lburning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 mIt is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to na thirsty soul,
so is ogood news from a far country.
26 Like pa muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is qnot good to eat much honey,
nor is it glorious to rseek one’s own glory.3
28 A man swithout self-control
is like ta city broken into and left without walls.
