¹²I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed ^dboth to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³I can do all things ^ethrough Christ ^fwhich strengtheneth me. ¹⁴Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ^gye did communicate with my affliction. ¹⁵Now ye Philippians know also, that ^hin the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from ⁱMacedonia, ^kno church communicated with me as concerning ^lgiving and receiving, but ye only. ¹⁶For even in ^mThessalonica ye sent once and again unto my ⁿnecessity. ¹⁷^oNot because I desire a gift: but I desire ^pfruit that may abound to your account. ¹⁸But ^||I ^qhave all, and abound: I am full, ^rhaving received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, ^san odour of a sweet smell, ^ta sacrifice acceptable, ^uwellpleasing to God. ¹⁹But my God ^wshall supply all your ⁿneed ^xaccording to his riches ^yin glory by Christ Jesus.

Read in Logos

Philippians 4:12: I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Footnotes

dSo 1 Cor. 4:11. 2 Cor. 6:10. & 11:27.
eSo John 15:5. 2 Cor. 12:9.
f 1 Tim. 1:12 (Gk.). 2 Tim. 4:17. Heb. 11:34. So Col. 1:11.
gComp. ch. 1:7. See Rev. 1:9.
hch. 1:5.
iSee Acts 16:12.
kComp. 2 Cor. 11:8, 9.
l Ecclus. 42:3. James 1:17 (Gk.).
mSee Acts 17:1.
nver. 19 (Gk.). Acts 6:3 (Gk.). & 20:34. Rom. 12:13. Eph. 4:29 (Gk.)? Tit. 3:14 (Gk.).
oSo 2 Cor. 9:5.
p Rom. 1:13. & 15:28. See Tit. 3:14.
||Or, I have received all. Luke 6:24. Philem. 15.
rSee ch. 2:25.
sSee Eph. 5:2.
uSee Rom. 14:18. So 1 Pet. 2:5. Comp. 2 Cor. 9:12.
wSo Ps. 23:1. 2 Cor. 9:8.
nver. 19 (Gk.). Acts 6:3 (Gk.). & 20:34. Rom. 12:13. Eph. 4:29 (Gk.)? Tit. 3:14 (Gk.).
xSee Eph. 3:16.
ySee 2 Cor. 8:19.

Cross references

q Matt. 6:2.
t Heb. 13:16.

Public Domain

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.

And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account. But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

NLTNew Living Translation

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. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

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. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

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. 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.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I know how both to make do with little and I know how to have an abundance. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to have an abundance and to go without. I am able to do all things by the one who strengthens me. Nevertheless you have done well by sharing with me in my affliction. Now you also know, Philippians, that at the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone, because even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion you sent for my need. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek for the profit that increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am well supplied because I received from Epaphroditus what you had sent, a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will fulfill your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.