New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.
1
So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.
2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?
2
If I make you sad, who is going to make me glad? Only you, the one I made sad.
3 I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy.
3
I wrote what I did for a special reason. When I came, I didn't want to be troubled by those who should make me glad. I was sure that all of you would share my joy.
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.
4
I was very troubled when I wrote to you. My heart was sad. My eyes were full of tears. I didn't want to make you sad. I wanted to let you know that I love you very deeply.
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.
5
Suppose someone has made us sad. In some ways, he hasn't made me sad so much as he has made all of you sad. But I don't want to put this too strongly.
6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient.
6
He has been punished because most of you decided he should be. That is enough for him.
7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
7
Now you should forgive him and comfort him. Then he won't be sad more than he can stand.
8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
8
So I'm asking you to tell him again that you still love him.
9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.
9
I wrote to you for a special reason. I wanted to see if you could stand the test. I wanted to see if you could obey everything that was asked of you.
10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,
10
Anyone you forgive I also forgive. Was there anything to forgive? If so, I have forgiven it for your benefit, knowing that Christ is watching.
11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
11
We don't want Satan to outsmart us. We know how he does his evil work.
12 Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me,
12
I went to Troas to preach the good news about Christ. There I found that the Lord had opened a door of opportunity for me.
13 I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.
13
But I still had no peace of mind. I couldn't find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to the believers at Troas and went on to Macedonia.
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.
14
Give thanks to God! He always leads us in the winners' parade because we belong to Christ. Through us, God spreads the knowledge of Christ everywhere like perfume.
15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
15
God considers us to be the sweet smell that Christ is spreading among people who are being saved and people who are dying.
16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?
16
To the one, we are the smell of death. To the other, we are the perfume of life. Who is able to do that work?
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, as those sent from God.
17
Unlike many people, we aren't selling God's word to make money. In fact, it is just the opposite. Because of Christ we speak honestly before God. We speak like people God has sent.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.