3 Blessed be  * the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies  * and the God of all comfort.  *4 He comforts us in all our affliction,  * so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as the sufferings  * of Christ  * overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.  *6 If we are afflicted,  * it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.  *7 And our hope  * for you is firm, because we know that as you share  * in the sufferings, so you will also share in the comfort.