⁹ Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should ^(A)not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,

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

¹⁷ (as it is written, ^(A)“I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, ^(B)who gives life to the dead and calls those ^(C)things which do not exist as though they did; ¹⁸ who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, ^(D)“So shall your descendants be.” ¹⁹ And not being weak in faith, ^(E)he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), ^(F)and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰ He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being fully convinced that what He had promised ^(G)He was also able to perform. ²² And therefore ^(H)“it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

²³ Now ^(I)it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, ²⁴ but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe ^(J)in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, ^25 (K)who was delivered up because of our offenses, and ^(L)was raised because of our justification.

Cast Down but Unconquered

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, ^(A)that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

¹⁹ concluding that God ^(A)was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

The Thorn in the Flesh

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a ^(A)thorn in the flesh was given to me, ^(B)a messenger of Satan to ^[a]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ^8 (C)Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly ^(D)I will rather boast in my infirmities, ^(E)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(F)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. ^(G)For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ Also He spoke this parable to some ^(A)who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: