Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.s 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of Godt to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,u in hope 21 thath the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decayv and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.w

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaningx as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,y groanz inwardly as we wait eagerlya for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.b 24 For in this hope we were saved.c But hope that is seen is no hope at all.d Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.e

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spiritf himself intercedes for usg through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our heartsh knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedesi for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the goodj of those who love him, whoi have been calledk according to his purpose.l 29 For those God foreknewm he also predestinedn to be conformed to the image of his Son,o that he might be the firstbornp among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined,q he also called;r those he called, he also justified;s those he justified, he also glorified.t

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things?u If God is for us,v who can be against us?w 32 He who did not spare his own Son,x but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any chargey against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?z No one. Christ Jesus who dieda—more than that, who was raised to lifeb—is at the right hand of Godc and is also interceding for us.d 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?e Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?f 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”j g

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerorsh through him who loved us.i 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,k neither the present nor the future,j nor any powers,k 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Godl that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.m