²⁶ for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. ²⁷ Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. ^(A)Though our outer self^[a] is wasting away, ^(B)our inner self ^(C)is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For ^(D)this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

⁵ “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah ^(A)the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: ^(B)I have heard your prayer; ^(C)I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, ⁶ and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, ^(D)and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.”