¹³ Brothers, I don't regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,

⁶² But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God."

¹ Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

¹ Therefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection--not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,

¹² Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.

⁸ Yes most assuredly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ

²⁴ Don't you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win.

²⁵ Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.

²⁶ I therefore run like that, as not uncertainly. I fight like that, as not beating the air,

²⁷ but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

¹² So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

⁴ One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after, That I may dwell in the house of Yahweh all the days of my life, To see Yahweh's beauty, And to inquire in his temple.

¹⁶ Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

¹⁸ What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.

¹⁹ For I know that this will turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

²⁰ according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.

²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

⁴² but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her."

¹⁰ Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father's house.

²³ but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you,

²⁴ whenever I journey to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.

²⁵ But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints.

²⁶ For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem.

²⁷ Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in fleshly things.

²⁸ When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain.

²⁹ I know that, when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ.

¹¹ Not that I speak in respect to lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.

¹² I know how to be humbled, and I know also how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need.

¹³ I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

⁸ But don't forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.