7
1 Having
therefore these
promises, beloved, let’s
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 grieved
you with my
letter, I do
not regret it,
though I did
regret it. For
I see that my
letter made you
grieve, though
just for a
while.
9 I
now rejoice, not
that you were
grieved, but that
you were grieved
to repentance. For
you were grieved
in a godly
way, that you
might suffer loss
by us in
nothing.
10 For
godly sorrow
produces repentance
leading to
salvation, which
brings no regret.
But the sorrow
of the world
produces death.
11 For
behold, this same
thing, that you
were grieved in
a godly way,
what earnest care
it worked in you.
Yes, what defense,
indignation, fear,
longing, zeal,
and vindication! 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
confident concerning
you.