³⁴ And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him ^(A)deny himself and ^(B)take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For ^(C)whoever would save his life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake ^(D)and the gospel's will save it. ^36 (E)For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ³⁷ For ^(F)what can a man give in return for his soul? ³⁸ For ^(G)whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this ^(H)adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed ^(I)when he comes in the glory of his Father with ^(J)the holy angels.”

²⁰ I have been ^(A)crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives ^(B)in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, ^(C)who loved me and ^(D)gave himself for me.

²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even ^(A)things that are not, to ^(B)bring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so ^(C)that no human being^[a] might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰ And because of him^[b] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us ^(D)wisdom from God, ^(E)righteousness and ^(F)sanctification and ^(G)redemption, ³¹ so that, as it is written, ^(H)“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”