4 But in every way we show we are servants of God: in accepting many hard things, in troubles, in difficulties, and in great problems.
5 We are beaten and thrown into prison. We meet those who become upset with us and start riots. We work hard, and sometimes we get no sleep or food.
6 We show we are servants of God by our pure lives, our understanding, patience, and kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by true love,
7 by speaking the truth, and by God’s power. We use our right living to defend ourselves against everything.
8 Some people honor us, but others blame us. Some people say evil things about us, but others say good things. Some people say we are liars, but we speak the truth.
9 We are not known, but we are well known. We seem to be dying, but we continue to live. We are punished, but we are not killed.
10 We have much sadness, but we are always rejoicing. We are poor, but we are making many people rich in faith. We have nothing, but really we have everything.