3 Praise be to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the compassionate Father and the God of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those who are also in trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 The more we share in Christ's sufferings, the more we receive the abundant comfort of Christ. 6 If we are in distress, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are being comforted, it is for your comfort, which results in you patiently bearing the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 We have great confidence in you,* knowing that as you share in our sufferings you also share in our comfort.