Thanksgiving for God’s Comfort

1:3 Blessed is5 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 1:4 who comforts us in all our troubles6 so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble7 with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 1:5 For just as the sufferings8 of Christ9 overflow10 toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you.11 1:6 But if we are afflicted,12 it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer. 1:7 And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in13 our sufferings, so also you will share in14 our comfort. 1:8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,15 regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia,16 that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living. 1:9 Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us,17 so that we would not trust in ourselves18 but in God who raises the dead. 1:10 He19 delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him20 that21 he will deliver us yet again, 1:11 as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God22 on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many.