⁶ Be strong^(A) and courageous,^(B) because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors^(C) to give them.

⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey^(D) all the law^(E) my servant Moses^(F) gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,^(G) that you may be successful wherever you go.^{(H) 8} Keep this Book of the Law^(I) always on your lips;^(J) meditate^(K) on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.^{(L) 9} Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;^(M) do not be discouraged,^(N) for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”^(O)

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future,^(A) nor any powers,^{(B) 39} neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God^(C) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.^(D)

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay^(A) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God^(B) and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side,^(C) but not crushed; perplexed,^(D) but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted,^(E) but not abandoned;^(F) struck down, but not destroyed.^{(G) 10} We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,^(H) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.^{(I) 11} For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,^(J) so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.^(K)

¹³ It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”^[a](L) Since we have that same spirit of^[b] faith,^(M) we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead^(N) will also raise us with Jesus^(O) and present us with you to himself.^{(P) 15} All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving^(Q) to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart.^(R) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly^(S) we are being renewed^(T) day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.^{(U) 18} So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,^(V) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord^(A) and in his mighty power.^{(B) 11} Put on the full armor of God,^(C) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,^(D) but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(E) against the powers^(F) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.^{(G) 13} Therefore put on the full armor of God,^(H) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,^(I) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,^{(J) 15} and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.^{(K) 16} In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,^(L) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(M) 17} Take the helmet of salvation^(N) and the sword of the Spirit,^(O) which is the word of God.^(P)

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit^(Q) on all occasions^(R) with all kinds of prayers and requests.^(S) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying^(T) for all the Lord’s people.

³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.^(A) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.^{(B) 4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.^{(C) 5} But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,^(D) do the work of an evangelist,^(E) discharge all the duties of your ministry.

⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,^(F) and the time for my departure is near.^{(G) 7} I have fought the good fight,^(H) I have finished the race,^(I) I have kept the faith.