2Cor.2.1
But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
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
For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
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
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.
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
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.
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
But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
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
Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
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
So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
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
Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
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
For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
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
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;
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
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
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.
2Cor.2.12
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
2Cor.2.12
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.
2Cor.2.12
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me,
2Cor.2.12
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,
2Cor.2.12
Well, when I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord gave me tremendous opportunities.
2Cor.2.13
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.
2Cor.2.13
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.
2Cor.2.13
I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia.
2Cor.2.13
I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.
2Cor.2.13
But I couldn't rest because my dear brother Titus hadn't yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.
2Cor.2.14
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.
2Cor.2.14
And I got it, thank God! In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance.
2Cor.2.14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
2Cor.2.14
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
2Cor.2.14
But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume.
2Cor.2.15
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
2Cor.2.15
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.
2Cor.2.15
For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
2Cor.2.15
For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
2Cor.2.15
Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those being saved and by those perishing.
2Cor.2.16
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?
2Cor.2.16
But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on?
2Cor.2.16
To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
2Cor.2.16
To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
2Cor.2.16
To those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
2Cor.2.17
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.
2Cor.2.17
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.
2Cor.2.17
Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
2Cor.2.17
For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
2Cor.2.17
You see, we are not like those hucksters--and there are many of them--who preach just to make money. We preach God's message with sincerity and with Christ's authority. And we know that the God who sent us is watching us.
