Because of how I suffered for Christ, I’m glad that I am weak. I am glad in hard times. I am glad when people say mean things about me. I am glad when things are difficult. And I am glad when people make me suffer. When I am weak, I am strong.

我为基督的缘故，就以软弱、凌辱、急难、逼迫、困苦为可喜乐的；因我什么时候软弱，什么时候就刚强了。

为基督的缘故，我以软弱、凌辱、艰难、迫害、困苦为可喜乐的事；因为我什么时候软弱，什么时候就刚强了。

为基督的缘故，我以软弱、凌辱、艰难、迫害、困苦为可喜乐的事；因为我什么时候软弱，什么时候就刚强了。

因此，为了基督的缘故，我欣然面对软弱、凌辱、迫害、艰难和困苦，因为我软弱的时候也正是我刚强的时候。

因此，我为基督的缘故，就以软弱、凌辱、艰难、迫害、困苦为喜乐，因为我什么时候软弱，什么时候就刚强了。

所以，为了基督的缘故，我在那些软弱中、凌辱中、艰难中、在逼迫和困苦中，都感到喜悦；因为我什么时候软弱，什么时候就刚强了。

我為基督的緣故，就以軟弱、凌辱、急難、逼迫、困苦為可喜樂的；因我甚麼時候軟弱，甚麼時候就剛強了。

為基督的緣故，我以軟弱、凌辱、艱難、迫害、困苦為可喜樂的事；因為我甚麼時候軟弱，甚麼時候就剛強了。

為基督的緣故，我以軟弱、凌辱、艱難、迫害、困苦為可喜樂的事；因為我甚麼時候軟弱，甚麼時候就剛強了。

因此，為了基督的緣故，我欣然面對軟弱、凌辱、迫害、艱難和困苦，因為我軟弱的時候也正是我剛強的時候。

因此，我為基督的緣故，就以軟弱、凌辱、艱難、迫害、困苦為喜樂，因為我甚麼時候軟弱，甚麼時候就剛強了。

故此我為基督的緣故、就以種種的軟弱、凌辱、艱難、逼迫和困迫、為可喜悅；因為我甚麼時候軟弱，我甚麼時候就有能力而剛強。

所以，為了基督的緣故，我在那些軟弱中、凌辱中、艱難中、在逼迫和困苦中，都感到喜悅；因為我什麼時候軟弱，什麼時候就剛強了。

我為基督、以荏弱、凌辱、空乏、窘逐、阨窮為喜、蓋我弱時則強焉、○

吾為基督、以荏弱、凌辱、災害、窘逐、阨窮、為喜、蓋吾柔時反能矣、

是以我為基督、以荏弱、凌辱、患難、窘逐、困苦為樂、蓋我弱時反強矣、

吾為基督之故、凡肉體之柔弱、以及一切侮辱、艱難、窘迫、困苦、皆所甘受。蓋吾之弱、正吾之所以強也。

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

But he said to me,“ My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So I am very happy to brag about how weak I am. Then Christ’s power can rest on me.

Finally, let the Lord make you strong. Depend on his mighty power.

It is true that Christ was nailed to the cross because he was weak. But Christ lives by God’s power. In the same way, we share his weakness. But by God’s power we will live with Christ as we serve you.

And that’s not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on.

My brothers and sisters, you will face all kinds of trouble. When you do, think of it as pure joy.

Because you know all this, you have great joy. You have joy even though you may have had to suffer for a little while. You may have had to suffer sadness in all kinds of trouble.Your troubles have come in order to prove that your faith is real. Your faith is worth more than gold. That’s because gold can pass away even when fire has made it pure. Your faith is meant to bring praise, honor and glory to God. This will happen when Jesus Christ returns.

Our troubles are small. They last only for a short time. But they are earning for us a glory that will last forever. It is greater than all our troubles.

He comforts us in all our troubles. Now we can comfort others when they are in trouble. We ourselves receive comfort from God.

Instead, we make it clear that we serve God in every way. We serve him by standing firm in troubles, hard times and suffering.

Christ died for everyone. He died so that those who live should not live for themselves anymore. They should live for Christ. He died for them and was raised again.

We are fools for Christ. But you are so wise in Christ! We are weak. But you are so strong! You are honored. But we are looked down on!

They will treat you like that because of my name. They do not know the one who sent me.

I’m glad when I am weak but you are strong. I pray that there will be no more problems among you.

Blessed are you when people hate you, when they have nothing to do with you and say bad things about you, and when they treat your name as something evil. They do all this because you are followers of the Son of Man.

The apostles were full of joy as they left the Sanhedrin. They considered it an honor to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.

You have been faithful and have put up with a lot of trouble because of me. You have not given up.

So among God’s churches we brag about the fact that you don’t give up easily. We brag about your faith in all the suffering and testing you are going through.

I am happy because of what I am suffering for you. My suffering joins with and continues the sufferings of Christ. I suffer for his body, which is the church.

Are they serving Christ? I am serving him even more. I’m out of my mind to talk like this! I have worked much harder. I have been in prison more often. I have suffered terrible beatings. Again and again I almost died.Five times the Jews gave me 39 strokes with a whip.Three times I was beaten with sticks. Once they tried to kill me by throwing stones at me. Three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.I have had to keep on the move. I have been in danger from rivers. I have been in danger from robbers. I have been in danger from my fellow Jews and in danger from Gentiles. I have been in danger in the city, in the country, and at sea. I have been in danger from people who pretended they were believers.I have worked very hard. Often I have gone without sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty. Often I have gone without food. I have been cold and naked.Besides everything else, every day I am concerned about all the churches. It is a very heavy load.If anyone is weak, I feel weak. If anyone is led into sin, I burn on the inside.If I have to brag, I will brag about the things that show how weak I am.

Here is what he has given you to do for Christ. You must not only believe in him. You must also suffer for him.

We are pushed hard from all sides. But we are not beaten down. We are bewildered. But that doesn’t make us lose hope.Others make us suffer. But God does not desert us. We are knocked down. But we are not knocked out.We always carry around the death of Jesus in our bodies. In that way, the life of Jesus can be shown in our bodies.We who are alive are always in danger of death because we are serving Jesus. This happens so that his life can also be shown in our earthly bodies.

The message we preach is not about ourselves. Our message is about Jesus Christ. We say that he is Lord. And we say that we serve you because of Jesus.

Those who praise themselves are not accepted. Those the Lord praises are accepted.

Instead, be joyful that you are taking part in Christ’s sufferings. Then you will have even more joy when Christ returns in glory.Suppose people say bad things about you because you believe in Christ. Then you are blessed, because God’s Spirit rests on you. He is the Spirit of glory.

Who can separate us from Christ’s love? Can trouble or hard times or harm or hunger? Can nakedness or danger or war?It is written,“ Because of you, we face death all day long. We are considered as sheep to be killed.”( Psalm 44:22)No! In all these things we are more than winners! We owe it all to Christ, who has loved us.I am absolutely sure that not even death or life can separate us from God’s love. Not even angels or demons, the present or the future, or any powers can separate us.Not even the highest places or the lowest, or anything else in all creation can separate us. Nothing at all can ever separate us from God’s love. That’s because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done.

But my life might even be poured out like a drink offering on your sacrifices. I’m talking about the way you serve because you believe. Even so, I am glad. I am joyful with all of you.So you too should be glad and joyful with me.

I have spoken to you very honestly. I am very proud of you. I am very happy. Even with all our troubles, my joy has no limit.