| World English Bible (WEB) |
New International Version (NIV) |
|
1 But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.
|
1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.
|
|
2 For if I make you sorry, then who will make me glad but he who is made sorry by me?
|
2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?
|
|
3 And 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 is of you all.
|
3 I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy.
|
|
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made sorry, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.
|
4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
|
|
5 But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all.
|
5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent--not to put it too severely.
|
|
6 Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many;
|
6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him.
|
|
7 so that on the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.
|
7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
|
|
8 Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him.
|
8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
|
|
9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things.
|
9 The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.
|
|
10 Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
|
10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven--if there was anything to forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,
|
|
11 that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
|
11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
|
|
12 Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord,
|
12 Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me,
|
|
13 I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn't find Titus, my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.
|
13 I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia.
|
|
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place.
|
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
|
|
15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish;
|
15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
|
|
16 to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
|
16 To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
|
|
17 For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.
|
17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
|
| The World English Bible is in the public domain. (The World English Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
