Book Two
Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?
To the choirmaster. A Maskil1 of sthe Sons of Korah.
1 tAs a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 uMy soul thirsts for God,
for vthe living God.
When shall I come and wappear before God?2
3 xMy tears have been my food
day and night,
ywhile they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember,
as I zpour out my soul:
ahow I would go bwith the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
ca multitude keeping festival.
5 dWhy are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you ein turmoil within me?
fHope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation3 6 and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I gremember you
hfrom the land of Jordan and of iHermon,
from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
jall your breakers and your kwaves
have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord lcommands his steadfast love,
and at mnight his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, nmy rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
oWhy do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
pwhile they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 qWhy are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
Christ’s Example of Humility
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from flove, any gparticipation in the Spirit, any haffection and sympathy, 2 icomplete my joy by being jof the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from kselfish ambition or lconceit, but in mhumility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you nlook not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 oHave this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,1 6 pwho, though he was in qthe form of God, did not count equality with God ra thing to be grasped,2 7 but semptied himself, by taking the form of a tservant,3 ubeing born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by vbecoming obedient to the point of death, weven death on a cross. 9 xTherefore yGod has zhighly exalted him and bestowed on him athe name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus bevery knee should bow, cin heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and devery tongue confess that Jesus Christ is eLord, to the glory of God the Father.
Lights in the World
12 Therefore, my beloved, fas you have always gobeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for hit is God who works in you, both to will and to work for ihis good pleasure.
14 Do all things jwithout grumbling or kdisputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, lchildren of God mwithout blemish nin the midst of oa crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine pas lights in the world, 16 holding fast to qthe word of life, so that in rthe day of Christ sI may be proud that tI did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be upoured out as a drink offering upon vthe sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus wto send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one xlike him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all yseek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s4 zproven worth, how aas a son5 with a father bhe has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and cI trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
25 I have thought it necessary to send to you dEpaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and efellow soldier, and your messenger and fminister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So greceive him in the Lord with all joy, and hhonor such men, 30 for he nearly died6 ifor the work of Christ, risking his life jto complete what was lacking in your service to me.
