1 B ut I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.

2 F or if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful?

3 T his is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all.

4 F or out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

5 B ut if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree— in order not to say too much—to all of you.

6 S ufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority,

7 s o that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

8 W herefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

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

10 B ut one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

11 s o that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

12 N ow when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord,

13 I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I went on to Macedonia.

14 B ut thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

15 F or we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;

16 t o the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

17 F or we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.