6. who, existing in the form of God,did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.
7. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a manin His external form,
8. He humbled Himself by becoming obedientto the point of death —even to death on a cross.
9. For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the namethat is above every name,
10. so that at the name of Jesusevery knee will bow —of those who are in heaven and on earthand under the earth —
11. and every tongue should confessthat Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12. So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13. For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.
14. Do everything without grumbling and arguing,
15. so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.