¹² Rejoice and be glad,^(A) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.^(B)

²³ “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,^(A) because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.^(B)

Trials and Temptations

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,^(A)

²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance^(A) from the Lord as a reward.^(B) It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

¹³ But rejoice^(A) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,^(B) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.^(C)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

²⁴ Now I rejoice^(A) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,^(B) for the sake of his body, which is the church.^(C)

³ Not only so, but we^[a] also glory in our sufferings,^(A) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;^(B)

¹² May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord,^(A) the God of Israel,^(B) under whose wings^(C) you have come to take refuge.^(D)”