¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and ^(A)hunger, abundance and ^(B)need.

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and ^(A)learn from me, for I am ^(B)gentle and lowly in heart, and ^(C)you will find rest for your souls.

⁷ So ^(A)to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,^{[a] (B)}a thorn was given me in the flesh, ^(C)a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ^8 (D)Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹ But he said to me, ^(E)“My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(F)my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that ^(G)the power of Christ may rest upon me. ^10 (H)For the sake of Christ, then, ^(I)I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For ^(J)when I am weak, then I am strong.

^27 (A)in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, ^(B)in hunger and thirst, often without food,^[a] in cold and exposure.

⁹ And when I was with you and was ^(A)in need, ^(B)I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia ^(C)supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain ^(D)from burdening you in any way.

⁴ but ^(A)as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: ^(B)by great endurance, ^(C)in afflictions, ^(D)hardships, calamities, ^5 (E)beatings, imprisonments, ^(F)riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; ^6 (G)by purity, ^(H)knowledge, patience, kindness, ^(I)the Holy Spirit, ^(J)genuine love; ⁷ by ^(K)truthful speech, and ^(L)the power of God; with ^(M)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; ⁸ through honor and dishonor, ^(N)through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; ⁹ as unknown, and ^(O)yet well known; ^(P)as dying, and behold, we live; ^(Q)as punished, and yet not killed; ^10 (R)as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; ^(S)as poor, yet making many rich; ^(T)as having nothing, ^(U)yet possessing everything.

Paul Defends His Ministry

10 ^(A)I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the ^(B)meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—

⁹ For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, ^(A)like men sentenced to death, because we ^(B)have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. ^10 (C)We are fools for Christ's sake, but ^(D)you are wise in Christ. ^(E)We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. ¹¹ To the present hour ^(F)we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and ^(G)buffeted and ^(H)homeless, ¹² and we ^(I)labor, working with our own hands. ^(J)When reviled, we bless; ^(K)when persecuted, we endure; ¹³ when slandered, we entreat. ^(L)We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, ^(M)the refuse of all things.