^17 (A)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, ^(B)with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

^5 (A)Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but ^(B)our sufficiency is from God,

⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly ^(A)I will rather boast in my infirmities, ^(B)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(C)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. ^(D)For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Signs of an Apostle

¹¹ I have become ^(E)a fool ^[a]in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for ^(F)in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though ^(G)I am nothing.

³⁶ For ^(A)of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, ^(B)to whom be glory forever. Amen.

The Futility of Idols and the Trustworthiness of God

⁹ For I am ^(A)the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because ^(B)I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But ^(C)by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, ^(D)yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

David’s Thanksgiving to God^(A)

¹⁸ Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said: ^(B)“Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?