¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing^t with the glory^u that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation^v for God’s sons^w to be revealed. ²⁰For the creation was subjected^x to futility^y—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it^z—in the hope ²¹that the creation itself^aa will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. ²²For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains^ab until now. ²³Not only that,^ac but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits^ad—we also groan within ourselves,^ae eagerly waiting for adoption,^af the redemption of our bodies.^ag ²⁴Now in this hope^ah we were saved, but hope^ai that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵Now if we hope for what we do not see,^aj we eagerly wait for it with patience.

²⁶In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should,^ak but the Spirit himself intercedes for us^E^al with inexpressible groanings. ²⁷And he who searches our hearts^am knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Read in Logos

Romans 8:23: And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Footnotes

ESome omit for us

Cross references

t 2Co 4:17; 1Pt 4:13
u Rm 1:5; Col 3:4; Ti 2:13; 1Pt 5:1
v Php 1:20
w 1Co 1:7; Col 3:4; 1Pt 1:7,13; 1Jn 3:2
x Gn 3:17–19
y Ps 39:5; Ec 1:2
z Gn 3:17; 5:29
aa Ac 3:21; 2Pt 3:13; Rv 21:1
ab Jr 12:4,11
ac Rm 5:3
ad Nm 15:17–21; 1Co 16:15; 2Co 1:22
ae 2Co 5:2,4
af Gl 5:5
ag Rm 7:24
ah 1Th 5:8; Ti 3:7
ai Rm 4:18; 2Co 5:7; Heb 11:1
aj 1Th 1:3
ak Mt 20:22; 2Co 12:8
al Jn 14:16; Rm 8:15–16; Eph 6:18
am Ps 139:1–5; Lk 16:15; Ac 1:24; Rv 2:23