Common English Bible CEB
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 So I decided that, for my own sake, I wouldn't visit you again while I was upset.
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For I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit.
2 If I make you sad, who will be there to make me glad when you are sad because of me?
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For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained?
3 That's why I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came I wouldn't be made sad by the ones who ought to make me happy. I have confidence in you, that my happiness means your happiness.
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And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.
4 I wrote to you in tears, with a very troubled and anxious heart. I didn't write to make you sad but so you would know the overwhelming love that I have for you.
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For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
5 But if someone has made anyone sad, that person hasn't hurt me but all of you to some degree (not to exaggerate).
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But if any one has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure--not to put it too severely--to you all.
6 The punishment handed out by the majority is enough for this person.
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For such a one this punishment by the majority is enough;
7 This is why you should try your best to forgive and to comfort this person now instead, so that this person isn't overwhelmed by too much sorrow.
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so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
8 So I encourage you to show your love for this person.
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So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.
9 This is another reason why I wrote you. I wanted to test you and see if you are obedient in everything.
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For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything.
10 If you forgive anyone for anything, I do too. And whatever I've forgiven (if I've forgiven anything), I did it for you in the presence of Christ.
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Any one whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ,
11 This is so that we won't be taken advantage of by Satan, because we are well aware of his schemes.
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to keep Satan from gaining the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
12 When I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, the Lord gave me an opportunity to preach.
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When I came to Tro'as to preach the gospel of Christ, a door was opened for me in the Lord;
13 But I was worried because I couldn't find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and went on to Macedonia.
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but my mind could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedo'nia.
14 But thank God, who is always leading us around through Christ as if we were in a parade. He releases the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere through us.
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But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
15 We smell like the aroma of Christ's offering to God, both to those who are being saved and to those who are on the road to destruction.
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For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,
16 We smell like a contagious dead person to those who are dying, but we smell like the fountain of life to those who are being saved. Who is qualified for this kind of ministry?
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to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
17 We aren't like so many people who hustle the word of God to make a profit. We are speaking through Christ in the presence of God, as those who are sincere and as those who are sent from God.
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For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word; but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.