1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves
from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of
God. 2 Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We corrupted no one. We
took advantage of no one. 3 I say this not to condemn you, for I have
said before, that you are in our hearts to die together and live
together. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great is my
boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all
our affliction. 5 For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had
no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear
was inside. 6 Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us
by the coming of Titus; 7 and not by his coming only, but also by the
comfort with which he was comforted in you, while he told us of your longing,
your mourning, and your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced still more.
8 For though I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it, though I
did regret it. For I see that my letter made you sorry, though just for a
while. 9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that
you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry in a
godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing. 10 For godly
sorrow works repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow
of the world works death. 11 For behold, this same thing, that you
were made sorry in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what
defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance! In everything
you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter. 12 So although
I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his
cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be
revealed in you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore we have been comforted.
In our comfort we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because
his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have
boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all
things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was
found to be truth. 15 His affection is more abundantly toward you, while
he remembers all of your obedience, how with fear and trembling you
received him. 16 I rejoice that in everything I am of good courage
concerning you.
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