16 The Spirit Himself atestifies with our spirit that we are bchildren of God,

17 and if children, aheirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, bif indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time aare not worthy to be compared with the bglory that is to be revealed to us.

19 For the aanxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for bthe revealing of the csons of God.

20 For the creation awas subjected to bfutility, not willingly, but cbecause of Him who subjected it, 1in hope

21 that athe creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation agroans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

23 aAnd not only this, but also we ourselves, having bthe first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves cgroan within ourselves, dwaiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, ethe redemption of our body.