We are (A)hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Read full chapter

We are hard pressed on every side,(A) but not crushed; perplexed,(B) but not in despair;

Read full chapter

Profiting from Trials

My brethren, (A)count it all joy (B)when you fall into various trials, (C)knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. James 1:3 endurance or perseverance
  2. James 1:4 mature

Trials and Temptations

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,(A) because you know that the testing of your faith(B) produces perseverance.(C) Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature(D) and complete, not lacking anything.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. James 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19.

Suffering for God’s Glory

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice (A)to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that (B)when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are [a]reproached for the name of Christ, (C)blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. [b]On their part He is blasphemed, (D)but on your part He is glorified.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:14 insulted or reviled
  2. 1 Peter 4:14 NU omits the rest of v. 14.

Suffering for Being a Christian

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you(A) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice(B) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,(C) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.(D) 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,(E) you are blessed,(F) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Read full chapter

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

(A)“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 (B)Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Read full chapter

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?(A) Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?(B) 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[a](C)

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors(D) through him who loved us.(E)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:22

10 Therefore (A)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. (B)For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Read full chapter

10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight(A) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,(B) in persecutions,(C) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(D)

Read full chapter

My enemies would (A)hound me all day,
For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.

Read full chapter

My adversaries pursue me all day long;(A)
    in their pride many are attacking me.(B)

When I am afraid,(C) I put my trust in you.(D)

Read full chapter

For indeed, (A)when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but (B)we were troubled on every side. (C)Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.

Read full chapter

For when we came into Macedonia,(A) we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn(B)—conflicts on the outside, fears within.(C)

Read full chapter

(A)In this you greatly rejoice, though now (B)for a little while, if need be, (C)you have been [a]grieved by various trials, that (D)the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though (E)it is tested by fire, (F)may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 1:6 distressed

In all this you greatly rejoice,(A) though now for a little while(B) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.(C) These have come so that the proven genuineness(D) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire(E)—may result in praise, glory and honor(F) when Jesus Christ is revealed.(G)

Read full chapter

And not only that, but (A)we also glory in tribulations, (B)knowing that tribulation produces [a]perseverance; (C)and perseverance, [b]character; and character, hope. (D)Now hope does not disappoint, (E)because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Romans 5:3 endurance
  2. Romans 5:4 approved character

Not only so, but we[a] also glory in our sufferings,(A) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;(B) perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope(C) does not put us to shame, because God’s love(D) has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,(E) who has been given to us.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Romans 5:3 Or let us

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? [a]Curse God and die!”

10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. (A)Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (B)In all this Job did not (C)sin with his lips.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 2:9 Lit. Bless, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:5

His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity?(A) Curse God and die!”(B)

10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish[a] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”(C)

In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.(D)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 2:10 The Hebrew word rendered foolish denotes moral deficiency.

18 (A)I will not leave you orphans; (B)I will come to you.

Read full chapter

18 I will not leave you as orphans;(A) I will come to you.(B)

Read full chapter

33 The Lord (A)will not leave him in his hand,
Nor condemn him when he is judged.

Read full chapter

33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
    or let them be condemned(A) when brought to trial.(B)

Read full chapter

Seeing the Invisible

16 Therefore we (A)do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is (B)being renewed day by day. 17 For (C)our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

Read full chapter

16 Therefore we do not lose heart.(A) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly(B) we are being renewed(C) day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.(D)

Read full chapter