- All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
- No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
- When doubts filled my mind,
your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. - But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
- God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted. - But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.
- And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.
- In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
and the Lord answered me and set me free. - I, yes I, am the one who comforts you.
So why are you afraid of mere humans,
who wither like the grass and disappear? - They will never again be hungry or thirsty;
they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun.
For the Lamb on the throne
will be their Shepherd.
He will lead them to springs of life-giving water.
And God will wipe every tear from their eyes. - For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
- But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.
- May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.
May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us.