¹⁷ For in it ^(A)the righteousness of God is revealed ^(B)from faith for faith,^{[a] (C)}as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”^[b]

God's Wrath on Unrighteousness

¹⁸ For ^(D)the wrath of God ^(E)is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

¹¹ my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me ^(A)at Antioch, ^(B)at Iconium, and ^(C)at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet ^(D)from them all ^(E)the Lord rescued me.

²⁰ Truly, truly, I say to you, ^(A)you will weep and lament, but ^(B)the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but ^(C)your sorrow will turn into joy. ^21 (D)When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ^22 (E)So also you have sorrow now, but ^(F)I will see you again, and ^(G)your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

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.