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And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

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perseverance, character; and character, hope.

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10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

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10 And the God of all grace, who called you(A) to his eternal glory(B) in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,(C) will himself restore you and make you strong,(D) firm and steadfast.

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12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

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12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial(A) because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life(B) that the Lord has promised to those who love him.(C)

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We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

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We are hard pressed on every side,(A) but not crushed; perplexed,(B) but not in despair; persecuted,(C) but not abandoned;(D) struck down, but not destroyed.(E) 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,(F) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.(G) 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,(H) so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.(I)

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So be truly glad.[a] There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:6 Or So you are truly glad.

In all this you greatly rejoice,(A) though now for a little while(B) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.(C) These have come so that the proven genuineness(D) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire(E)—may result in praise, glory and honor(F) when Jesus Christ is revealed.(G)

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16 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.[a] 18 Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:17 Greek from the mouth of a lion.

16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.(A) 17 But the Lord stood at my side(B) and gave me strength,(C) so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.(D) And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.(E) 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack(F) and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.(G) To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(H)

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18 Now that I am old and gray,
    do not abandon me, O God.
Let me proclaim your power to this new generation,
    your mighty miracles to all who come after me.

19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens.
    You have done such wonderful things.
    Who can compare with you, O God?
20 You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
    but you will restore me to life again
    and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
21 You will restore me to even greater honor
    and comfort me once again.

22 Then I will praise you with music on the harp,
    because you are faithful to your promises, O my God.
I will sing praises to you with a lyre,
    O Holy One of Israel.
23 I will shout for joy and sing your praises,
    for you have ransomed me.
24 I will tell about your righteous deeds
    all day long,
for everyone who tried to hurt me
    has been shamed and humiliated.

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18 Even when I am old and gray,(A)
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power(B) to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.(C)

19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,(D)
    you who have done great things.(E)
    Who is like you, God?(F)
20 Though you have made me see troubles,(G)
    many and bitter,
    you will restore(H) my life again;
from the depths of the earth(I)
    you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor(J)
    and comfort(K) me once more.

22 I will praise you with the harp(L)
    for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,(M)
    Holy One of Israel.(N)
23 My lips will shout for joy(O)
    when I sing praise to you—
    I whom you have delivered.(P)
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
    all day long,(Q)
for those who wanted to harm me(R)
    have been put to shame and confusion.(S)

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We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

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known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,(A) and yet we live on;(B) beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;(C) poor, yet making many rich;(D) having nothing,(E) and yet possessing everything.(F)

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He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.

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who comforts us(A) in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,(B) so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;(C) if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

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My heart is breaking
    as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
    leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
    amid the sound of a great celebration!

Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and

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These things I remember
    as I pour out my soul:(A)
how I used to go to the house of God(B)
    under the protection of the Mighty One[a]
with shouts of joy(C) and praise(D)
    among the festive throng.(E)

Why, my soul, are you downcast?(F)
    Why so disturbed(G) within me?
Put your hope in God,(H)
    for I will yet praise(I) him,
    my Savior(J) and my God.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 42:4 See Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.

When evil people come to devour me,
    when my enemies and foes attack me,
    they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me,
    my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
    I will remain confident.

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When the wicked advance against me
    to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.(A)
Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;(B)
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 27:2 Or slander

34 But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. 36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”

Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”

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34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion(A) or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized(B) it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion(C) and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued(D) me from the paw of the lion(E) and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with(F) you.”

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24 When they brought them out, Joshua told the commanders of his army, “Come and put your feet on the kings’ necks.” And they did as they were told.

25 “Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged,” Joshua told his men. “Be strong and courageous, for the Lord is going to do this to all of your enemies.”

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24 When they had brought these kings(A) to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet(B) on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet(C) on their necks.

25 Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.(D) This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.”

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