3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of loving kindness and the God of all encouragement,

4 who encourages us in every distress so that we may be able to encourage those who are in every distress by the encouragement by which we ourselves have been encouraged by God.

5 Because as the sufferings of Christ are abundant in our case, so through Christ our encouragement is abundant.

6 But if we are in distress, it is for your encouragement and salvation. If we are encouraged, it is for your encouragement which is effective in the endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.

7 Our hope is strong regarding you, since we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings so you are of the encouragement.