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For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
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Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,
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who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,
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you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
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For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
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For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end
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(as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.
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And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit--
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to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea.
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Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?
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But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.