And He has saidto me, "My graceis sufficientfor you, for poweris perfectedin weakness."Most gladly,therefore,I will ratherboastaboutmy weaknesses,sothat the powerof Christmay dwellin me.
ThereforeI am well contentwith weaknesses,with insults,with distresses,with persecutions,with difficulties,for Christ'ssake;for whenI am weak,thenI amstrong.
Therefore,since we haveso greata cloudof witnessessurroundingus, let us alsolay asideeveryencumbranceand the sinwhich so easily entanglesus, and let us runwith endurancethe racethat is set beforeus,
fixing our eyeson Jesus,the authorand perfecterof faith,whofor the joyset beforeHim enduredthe cross,despisingthe shame,and has sat downat the right handof the throneof God.
"Blessedare thosewho have been persecutedfor the sakeof righteousness,for theirsis the kingdomof heaven.
"Blessedare you when[people] insultyou and persecuteyou, and falselysayall kindsof evilagainstyou becauseof Me.
"Rejoiceand be glad,for your rewardin heavenis great;for in the same waythey persecutedthe prophetswho were beforeyou.
Onlyconductyourselves in a manner worthyof the gospelof Christ,sothat whetherI comeand seeyou orremain absent,I will hearof you that you are standing firmin onespirit,with onemindstriving togetherfor the faithof the gospel;
in no wayalarmedby [your] opponents--whichis a signof destructionfor them, but of salvationfor you, and that [too], from God.
Thereforewe do not lose heart,but thoughour outermanis decaying,yetour inner manis being reneweddayby day.
For momentary,lightafflictionis producingfor us an eternalweightof gloryfarbeyondall comparison,
while we looknot at the things which are seen,but at the things which are not seen;for the things which are seenare temporal,but the things which are not seenare eternal.
But rememberthe formerdays,when,after being enlightened,you endureda greatconflictof sufferings,
partlyby being made a public spectaclethrough reproachesand tribulations,and partlyby becomingsharerswith thosewho were sotreated.
For you showed sympathyto the prisonersand acceptedjoyfullythe seizureof your property,knowingthat you havefor yourselvesa betterpossessionand a lastingone.
And if you giveyourselfto the hungryAnd satisfythe desireof the afflicted,Then your lightwill risein darknessAnd your gloom[will become] like midday.
"And the LORDwill continuallyguideyou, And satisfyyour desirein scorchedplaces,And givestrengthto your bones;And you will be like a wateredgarden,And like a springof waterwhosewatersdo not fail.