since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
“ Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people,‘ Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father:“ I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord.And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.”’”
So they said to him,“ A man came up to meet us, and said to us,‘ Go, return to the king who sent you, and say to him,“ Thus says the Lord:‘ Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’”’ ”
Then he said to him,“ Thus says the Lord:‘ Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’”