⁵⁵ “‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns^(A) in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.

⁶ The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands;^(A) but you must spare his life.”^(B)

²⁴ “‘No longer will the people of Israel have malicious neighbors who are painful briers and sharp thorns.^(A) Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!^(A) For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’^[a]”^(B)

⁵ hand this man over^(A) to Satan^(B) for the destruction of the flesh,^[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.^(C)

¹⁰ For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive^(A) and his speaking amounts to nothing.”^(B)

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting.^(A) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations^(B) from the Lord.

⁵ I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.^(A)

¹⁹ “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”^(A) he said. “Peace!^(B) Be strong now; be strong.”^(C)