⁴⁰ “‘But if they will confess^(A) their sins^(B) and the sins of their ancestors^(C)—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, ⁴¹ which made me hostile^(D) toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts^(E) are humbled^(F) and they pay^(G) for their sin, ⁴² I will remember my covenant with Jacob^(H) and my covenant with Isaac^(I) and my covenant with Abraham,^(J) and I will remember the land. ⁴³ For the land will be deserted^(K) by them and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them. They will pay for their sins because they rejected^(L) my laws and abhorred my decrees.^{(M) 44} Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies,^(N) I will not reject them or abhor^(O) them so as to destroy them completely,^(P) breaking my covenant^(Q) with them. I am the Lord their God. ⁴⁵ But for their sake I will remember^(R) the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt^(S) in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord.’”

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.