⁹ For I think, God has exhibited us, the apostles, last of all as men ^(A)condemned to death, because we ^(B)have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to mankind. ¹⁰ We are ^(C)fools on account of Christ, but ^(D)you are prudent in Christ! ^(E)We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are without honor! ¹¹ Up to this present hour we are both ^(F)hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless; ¹² and we labor, ^(G)working with our own hands; when we are ^(H)verbally abused, we bless; when we are ^(I)persecuted, we endure it; ¹³ when we are slandered, we ^[a]reply as friends; we have ^(J)become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

A Thorn in the Flesh

⁷ Because of the extraordinary greatness of the ^(A)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a ^(B)thorn in the flesh, a ^(C)messenger of Satan to ^[a]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord ^(D)three times that it might leave me. ⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(E)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ^(F)boast ^[b]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(G)I delight in weaknesses, in ^[c]insults, in ^(H)distresses, in ^(I)persecutions, in ^(J)difficulties, ^(K)in behalf of Christ; for ^(L)when I am weak, then I am strong.