9. And do what you learned and received from me. Do what I told you and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you.
10. I am very happy in the Lord that you have shown your care for me again. You continued to care about me, but there was no way for you to show it.
11. I am telling you this, but it is not because I need anything. I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens.
12. I know how to live when I am poor. And I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens. I have learned to be happy when I have enough to eat and when I do not have enough to eat. I have learned to be happy when I have all that I need and when I do not have the things I need.
13. I can do all things through Christ because he gives me strength.
14. But it was good that you helped me when I needed help.
15. You people in Philippi remember when I first preached the Good News there. When I left Macedonia, you were the only church that gave me help.
16. Several times you sent me things I needed when I was in Thessalonica.