Psalm 30^[a]

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.^[b] Of David.

¹³ It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”^[a](A) Since we have that same spirit of^[b] faith,^(B) we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead^(C) will also raise us with Jesus^(D) and present us with you to himself.^{(E) 15} All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving^(F) to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart.^(G) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly^(H) we are being renewed^(I) day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.^{(J) 18} So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,^(K) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Awaiting the New Body

5 For we know that if the earthly^(L) tent^(M) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ² Meanwhile we groan,^(N) longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^{(O) 3} because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are in this tent, we groan^(P) and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^(Q) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.^(R)

⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we live by faith, not by sight.^{(S) 8} We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.^{(T) 9} So we make it our goal to please him,^(U) whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us^(V) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

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. ² I know a man in Christ^(C) who fourteen years ago was caught up^(D) to the third heaven.^(E) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.^{(F) 3} And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— ⁴ was caught up^(G) to paradise^(H) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. ⁵ I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.^{(I) 6} Even if I should choose to boast,^(J) I would not be a fool,^(K) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, ⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations.^(L) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,^(M) a messenger of Satan,^(N) to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.^{(O) 9} But he said to me, “My grace^(P) is sufficient for you, for my power^(Q) is made perfect in weakness.^(R)”^(S) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight^(T) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,^(U) in persecutions,^(V) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(W)