In fact he became so ill that he nearly died.<n id="1" /> But God showed mercy to him &#8211; and not to him only, but also to me &#8211; so that I would not have grief on top of grief.

When a woman gives birth, she has distress<n id="1" /> because her time<n id="2" /> has come, but when her child is born, she no longer remembers the suffering because of her joy that a human being<n id="3" /> has been born into the world.<n id="4" />

So also you have sorrow<n id="1" /> now, but <i>I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from youi>.<n id="2" />

And I wrote this very thing to you,<n id="1" /> so that when I came<n id="2" /> I would not have sadness from those who ought to make me rejoice, since I am confident in you all that my joy would be yours.