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

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

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 make you sorry, then who will make me glad but he who is made sorry by me?

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 this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, 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 out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made sorry, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly 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 any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all.

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

This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one;

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 that on the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.

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

Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward 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 to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things.

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,

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

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

that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

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 came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and when a door was opened to 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.

I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus, my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into 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.

Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place.

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 a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish;

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 one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is 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 as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.