ThereforeI am well contentwith weaknesses,with insults,with distresses,with persecutions,with difficulties,for Christ'ssake;for whenI am weak,thenI amstrong.
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.
Finally,be strongin the Lordand in the strengthof His might.
And not onlythis, but we alsoexultin our tribulations,knowingthat tribulationbrings aboutperseverance;
For indeedHe was crucifiedbecauseof weakness,yetHe livesbecauseof the powerof God.For we alsoare weakin Him, yetwe will livewith Him becauseof the powerof God[directed] towardyou.
Considerit alljoy,my brethren,whenyou encountervarioustrials,
but in everythingcommendingourselvesas servantsof God,in muchendurance,in afflictions,in hardships,in distresses,
Sothey went on their wayfrom the presenceof the Council,rejoicingthat they had been considered worthyto suffershamefor [His] name.
For we rejoicewhenwe ourselvesare weakbut you are strong;thiswe alsoprayfor, that you be made complete.
who comfortsus in allour afflictionsothat we will be ableto comfortthosewho are in anyafflictionwith the comfortwith whichwe ourselvesare comfortedby God.
"Blessedare you whenmenhateyou, and ostracizeyou, and insultyou, and scornyour nameas evil,for the sakeof the Sonof Man.
and He diedfor all,sothat they who livemight no longerlivefor themselves,but for Him who diedand rose againon their behalf.
For momentary,lightafflictionis producingfor us an eternalweightof gloryfarbeyondall comparison,
"But allthese thingsthey will doto you for My name'ssake,becausethey do not knowthe One who sentMe.
We are foolsfor Christ'ssake,but you are prudentin Christ;we are weak,but you are strong;you are distinguished,but we are without honor.
and you haveperseveranceand have enduredfor My name'ssake,and have not grown weary.
For it is not he who commendshimselfthat is approved,but he whomthe Lordcommends.
therefore,we ourselvesspeak proudlyof you amongthe churchesof Godfor your perseveranceand faithin the midst of allyour persecutionsand afflictionswhichyou endure.
For to you it has been grantedfor Christ'ssake,not onlyto believein Him, but alsoto sufferfor His sake,
NowI rejoicein my sufferingsfor your sake,and in my fleshI do my shareon behalfof His body,whichis the church,in fillingup whatis lackingin Christ'safflictions.
Greatis my confidencein you; greatis my boastingon your behalf.I am filledwith comfort;I am overflowingwith joyin allour affliction.
For we do not preachourselvesbut ChristJesusas Lord,and ourselvesas your bond-servantsfor Jesus'sake.
Therefore,we are ambassadorsfor Christ,as thoughGodwere making an appealthroughus; we begyou on behalfof Christ,be reconciledto God.
persecutions,[and] sufferings,suchas happenedto me at Antioch,at Iconium[and] at Lystra;whatpersecutionsI endured,and out of them allthe Lordrescuedme!