⁹ For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting.

¹¹ Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

¹⁰ night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

¹⁰ We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.

²¹ make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom `be' the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

²³ to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

¹ Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

¹⁷ That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.

¹² Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

²⁸ whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ;

¹² Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.

¹³ Brethren, I could not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing `I do', forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,

¹⁴ I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you:

¹² for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:

¹³ till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

⁷ Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is honorable, though we be as reprobate.

⁸ For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

⁵ On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in `my' weaknesses.

⁶ For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me `to be', or heareth from me.

⁷ And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.

⁸ Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

⁹ And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for `my' power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

¹⁰ Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

³⁰ If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weakness.

¹ Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.