1. But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in sadness.
2. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that makes me glad, but the one who is made sorry by me?
3. And I wrote this same to you, so that, when I came, I would not have sorrow from those for whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
4. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly for you.
5. But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, except in part: so that I may not be too severe on you all.
6. Sufficient for such a one is this punishment, which was inflicted by many.
7. So that on the contrary you ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, so that he will not perhaps be swallowed up with too much sorrow.
8. Therefore I plead with you that you would confirm your love toward him.
9. For to this end also did I write, that I might know your trustworthiness, whether you are obedient in all things.
10. To whom you forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes I forgave it in the person of Christ;
11. So that Satan would not get an advantage over us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
12. Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,
13. I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from there into Macedonia.
14. Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes known the fragrance of his knowledge by us in every place.
15. For we are to God a sweet fragrance of Christ in those who are saved and in those who are perishing:
16. To the one we are the fragrance of death unto death; and to the other the fragrance of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17. For we are not like many, who corrupt the word of God: but as men of sincerity, but as men from God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.