When they read it aloud, the people rejoiced at its encouragement.

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort already.

But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.

And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort.

because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, he is coming to you of his own accord.

For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit,

Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

But if we are afflicted, 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.

begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints.

Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy,

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly.

So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”),

if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.

For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.

Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus,

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you.

I have great confidence in you; I take great pride on your behalf. I am filled with encouragement; I am overflowing with joy in the midst of all our suffering.

Therefore we have been encouraged. And in addition to our own encouragement, we rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus, because all of you have refreshed his spirit.

I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.