Parallel Bible results for "2 corinthians 2"

2 Corinthians 2

KJV

MSG

1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
1 That's why I decided not to make another visit that could only be painful to both of us.
2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
2 If by merely showing up I would put you in an embarrassingly painful position, how would you then be free to cheer and refresh me?
3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
3 That was my reason for writing a letter instead of coming - so I wouldn't have to spend a miserable time disappointing the very friends I had looked forward to cheering me up. I was convinced at the time I wrote it that what was best for me was also best for you.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
4 As it turned out, there was pain enough just in writing that letter, more tears than ink on the parchment. But I didn't write it to cause pain; I wrote it so you would know how much I care - oh, more than care - love you!
5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
5 Now, regarding the one who started all this - the person in question who caused all this pain - I want you to know that I am not the one injured in this as much as, with a few exceptions, all of you. So I don't want to come down too hard.
6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
6 What the majority of you agreed to as punishment is punishment enough.
7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
7 Now is the time to forgive this man and help him back on his feet. If all you do is pour on the guilt, you could very well drown him in it.
8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
8 My counsel now is to pour on the love.
9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
9 The focus of my letter wasn't on punishing the offender but on getting you to take responsibility for the health of the church.
10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
10 So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don't think I'm carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I'm joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us.
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
11 After all, we don't want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief - we're not oblivious to his sly ways!
12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
12 When I arrived in Troas to proclaim the Message of the Messiah, I found the place wide open: God had opened the door; all I had to do was walk through it.
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
13 But when I didn't find Titus waiting for me with news of your condition, I couldn't relax. Worried about you, I left and came on to Macedonia province looking for Titus and a reassuring word on you.
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
14 And I got it, thank God!
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
15 Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation - an aroma redolent with life.
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
16 But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse.
17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
17 No - but at least we don't take God's Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ's presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.