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

But I definitely made up my mind not to grieve you with another painful and distressing visit.

2 F or if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? Forgive the Offender

For if I cause you pain, who is there to provide me enjoyment but the one whom I have grieved and made sad?

3 A nd 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.

And I wrote the same to you so that when I came, I might not be myself pained by those who are the ones who ought to make me glad, for I trusted in you all and felt confident that my joy would be shared by all of you.

4 F or 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.

For I wrote you out of great sorrow and deep distress of heart, with many tears, not to cause you pain but in order to make you realize the overflowing love that I continue increasingly to have for you.

5 B ut if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.

But if someone has caused grief and pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure, not to put it too severely, all of you.

6 T his punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,

For such a one this censure by the majority sufficient.

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

So you should rather turn and forgive and comfort and encourage, to keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive sorrow and despair.

8 T herefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

I therefore beg you to reinstate him in your affections and assure him of your love for him;

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

For this was my purpose in writing you, to test your attitude and see if you would stand the test, whether you are obedient and altogether agreeable in everything.

10 N ow 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,

If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive that one; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sakes in the presence of Christ (the Messiah),

11 l est Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. Triumph in Christ

To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions.

12 F urthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,

Now when I arrived at Troas the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, a door of opportunity was opened for me in 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 departed for Macedonia.

Yet my spirit could not rest (relax, get relief) because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave from them and departed for Macedonia.

14 N ow thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere,

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

For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ unto God, among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:

16 T o 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?

To the latter it is an aroma from death to death; to the former it is an aroma from life to life. And who is qualified (fit and sufficient) for these things?

17 F or 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.

For we are not, like so many, peddling God’s Word; but like of sincerity and the purest motive, as by God, we speak in Christ (the Messiah), in the sight and presence of God.