Romans 8:18–27

Present Suffering and Future Glory

¹⁸I 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 God^t to be revealed. ²⁰For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,^u in hope ²¹that^h the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay^v and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.^w

²²We know that the whole creation has been groaning^x as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,^y groan^z inwardly as we wait eagerly^a 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? ²⁵But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.^e

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