Romans 1:12

⁷For this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith. ⁸For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. ⁹For what thanksgiving can we give again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God, ¹⁰night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

³For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth. ⁴I have no greater joy than this: to hear about my children walking in truth.

¹Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,^[+] to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

⁴to Titus, my true child according to a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

⁴Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all our affliction.

⁵For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside. ⁶Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you while he told us of your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

¹³Therefore we have been comforted. In our comfort we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

¹But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow. ²For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me? ³And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be shared by all of you.

¹⁷But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire, ¹⁸because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us. ¹⁹For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus^[+] at his coming? ²⁰For you are our glory and our joy.

²³who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.

³²that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest.