Now I beg you, brothers, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.

God is my witness, how I long for you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

He longed to see you and was worried because you had heard that he was sick.

But we have been taken away from you for a short while. We have been taken away in person, not in spirit. We are all the more eager with great desire to see you.

When we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens.

Being

serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials that came on me by the plots of the Jews.

The Lamb who is in the middle of the throne will feed them and lead them to living fountains of water. God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.

God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death. There will be no more sorrow nor crying. There will be no more pain! The former things have passed away.

Filled

Those who cry while they plant will joyfully sing while they harvest.

to present a garland, instead of ashes, to those who mourn in Zion, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. They will be called oaks of righteousness. They are the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified.

Then young women will rejoice and dance along with young men and old men. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them. I will replace their sorrow with joy.

You have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your heart will rejoice and no one can take your joy from you.

We write these things that our joy may be made full (complete).

General references

Do your best to come to me shortly.