^12 (A)I know how to ^[a]be abased, and I know how to ^[b]abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

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

The Thorn in the Flesh

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a ^(A)thorn in the flesh was given to me, ^(B)a messenger of Satan to ^[a]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ^8 (C)Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly ^(D)I will rather boast in my infirmities, ^(E)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(F)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. ^(G)For when I am weak, then I am strong.

²⁷ in weariness and toil, ^(A)in sleeplessness often, ^(B)in hunger and thirst, in ^(C)fastings often, in cold and nakedness—

⁹ And when I was present with you, and in need, ^(A)I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked ^(B)the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.

⁴ But in all things we commend ourselves ^(A)as ministers of God: in much ^[a]patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, ^5 (B)in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; ⁶ by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by ^[b]sincere love, ^7 (C)by the word of truth, by ^(D)the power of God, by ^(E)the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸ by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹ as unknown, and ^(F)yet well known; ^(G)as dying, and behold we live; ^(H)as chastened, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many ^(I)rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

The Spiritual War

10 Now ^(A)I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—^(B)who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

⁹ For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a ^(A)spectacle ^[a]to the world, both to angels and to men. ¹⁰ We are ^(B)fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! ^(C)We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! ¹¹ To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. ^12 (D)And we labor, working with our own hands. ^(E)Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; ¹³ being defamed, we ^[b]entreat. ^(F)We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.