⁸ And you will again listen^[a] to the voice of Yahweh, and you will do all his commandments that I am commanding you today.^{[b] 9} And Yahweh your God will make you prosperous in all your undertakings,^[c] and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground abundantly,^[d] for Yahweh will again rejoice^[e] over you, just as he rejoiced over your ancestors.^{[f] 10} He will do this if you listen to^[g] the voice of Yahweh your God by keeping his commandment and his statutes written in the scroll of this law and if you return to Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your inner self.^[h]

The Progress of the Gospel

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances^[a] have happened instead for the progress of the gospel, ¹³ so that my imprisonment in Christ has become known in the whole praetorium^[b] and to all the rest, ¹⁴ and most of the brothers, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, dare even more to speak the word without fear. ¹⁵ Some even because of envy and strife preach Christ, but some also because of good will. ¹⁶ The latter do so from love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction in my imprisonment. ¹⁸ What is the result?^[c] Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. But also I will rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that this will turn out to me for deliverance through your prayer and the support of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ according to my eager expectation and hope, that I will be put to shame in nothing, but with all boldness, even now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether through life or through death. ²¹ For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² But if it is to live in the flesh, this is fruitful work for me, and which I will prefer I do not know. ²³ But I am hard pressed between the two options^[d], having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, for this is very much better^[e]. ²⁴ But to stay on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. ²⁵ And because I am^[f] convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that what you can be proud of may increase in Christ Jesus because of me through my return again to you.

Stand Firm for the Gospel

²⁷ Only lead your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent I hear your circumstances^[g], that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul contending side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not letting yourselves be intimidated in anything by your opponents, which is a sign of destruction to them, but of your salvation, and this from God, ²⁹ because to you has been graciously granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on behalf of him,