Praise to the God of All Comfort

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us^(B) in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵ For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,^(C) so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ⁶ If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;^(D) if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. ⁷ And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings,^(E) so also you share in our comfort.

⁸ We do not want you to be uninformed,^(F) brothers and sisters,^[a] about the troubles we experienced^(G) in the province of Asia.^(H) We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. ⁹ Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God,^(I) who raises the dead.^{(J) 10} He has delivered us from such a deadly peril,^(K) and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope^(L) that he will continue to deliver us, ¹¹ as you help us by your prayers.^(M) Then many will give thanks^(N) on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

²³ Are they servants of Christ?^(A) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,^(B) been in prison more frequently,^(C) been flogged more severely,^(D) and been exposed to death again and again.^{(E) 24} Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes^(F) minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods,^(G) once I was pelted with stones,^(H) three times I was shipwrecked,^(I) I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews,^(J) in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,^(K) in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.^{(L) 27} I have labored and toiled^(M) and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;^(N) I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.^{(O) 29} Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?^(P) Who is led into sin,^(Q) and I do not inwardly burn?

³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast^(R) of the things that show my weakness.^{(S) 31} The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever,^(T) knows^(U) that I am not lying. ³² In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.^{(V) 33} But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.^(W)