2Cor.2.1

That's why I decided not to make another visit that could only be painful to both of us.

2Cor.2.1

So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.

2Cor.2.1

But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow.

2Cor.2.1

So I said to myself, "No, I won't do it. I won't make them unhappy with another painful visit."

2Cor.2.2

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?

2Cor.2.2

For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?

2Cor.2.2

For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

2Cor.2.2

For if I cause you pain and make you sad, who is going to make me glad?

2Cor.2.3

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.

2Cor.2.3

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.

2Cor.2.3

And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.

2Cor.2.3

That is why I wrote as I did in my last letter, so that when I do come, I will not be made sad by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you know that my happiness depends on your happiness.

2Cor.2.4

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!

2Cor.2.4

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.

2Cor.2.4

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 so abundantly for you.

2Cor.2.4

How painful it was to write that letter! Heartbroken, I cried over it. I didn't want to hurt you, but I wanted you to know how very much I love you.

2Cor.2.5

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.

2Cor.2.5

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.

2Cor.2.5

But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent--not to be too severe.

2Cor.2.5

I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt your entire church more than he hurt me.

2Cor.2.6

What the majority of you agreed to as punishment is punishment enough.

2Cor.2.6

The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him.

2Cor.2.6

This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,

2Cor.2.6

He was punished enough when most of you were united in your judgment against him.

2Cor.2.7

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.

2Cor.2.7

Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

2Cor.2.7

so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

2Cor.2.7

Now it is time to forgive him and comfort him. Otherwise he may become so discouraged that he won't be able to recover.

2Cor.2.8

My counsel now is to pour on the love.

2Cor.2.8

I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.

2Cor.2.8

Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

2Cor.2.8

Now show him that you still love him.

2Cor.2.9

The focus of my letter wasn't on punishing the offender but on getting you to take responsibility for the health of the church.

2Cor.2.9

The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.

2Cor.2.9

For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.

2Cor.2.9

I wrote to you as I did to find out how far you would go in obeying me.

2Cor.2.10

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.

2Cor.2.10

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,

2Cor.2.10

Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

2Cor.2.10

When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive him (for whatever is to be forgiven), I do so with Christ's authority for your benefit,

2Cor.2.11

After all, we don't want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief--we're not oblivious to his sly ways!

2Cor.2.11

in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

2Cor.2.11

lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

2Cor.2.11

so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are very familiar with his evil schemes.