The Kingdom of Righteousness

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit^(A) himself intercedes for us^(B) through wordless groans.

15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak^(A) and not to please ourselves.

⁵ I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.^{(A) 6} Even if I should choose to boast,^(B) I would not be a fool,^(C) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, ⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations.^(D) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,^(E) a messenger of Satan,^(F) to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.^{(G) 9} But he said to me, “My grace^(H) is sufficient for you, for my power^(I) is made perfect in weakness.^(J)”^(K) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight^(L) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,^(M) in persecutions,^(N) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(O)

¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest^(A) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are^(B)—yet he did not sin.^(C)

² He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray,^(A) since he himself is subject to weakness.^(B)

³ When you ask, you do not receive,^(A) because you ask with wrong motives,^(B) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.