2 Corinthians 2

¹ But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.

² For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me?

³ 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 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made to grieve, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.

⁵ 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 This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one;

⁷ 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 Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him.

⁹ For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things.

¹⁰ 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 that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

¹² 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 relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia.

¹⁴ 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 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God in those who are being saved and in those who perish: CCC · Fathers

¹⁶ 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? Fathers

¹⁷ 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.

¹ BBut I determined this with myself, not to come to you again in sorrow.

² For if I make you sorrowful, who is he then that can make me glad, but the same who is made sorrowful by me?

³ And I wrote this same to you: that I may not, when I come, have sorrow upon sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice: having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

⁴ For out of much affliction and anguish of heart, I wrote to you with many tears: not that you should be made sorrowful: but that you might know the charity I have more abundantly towards you.

⁵ And if any one have caused grief, he hath not grieved me: but in part, that I may not burden you all.

⁶ To him who is such a one, this rebuke is sufficient, which is given by many.

⁷ So that on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

⁸ Wherefore, I beseech you that you would confirm your charity towards him.

⁹ For to this end also did I write, that I may know the experiment of you, whether you be obedient in all things.

¹⁰ And to whom you have pardoned any thing, I also. For, what I have pardoned, if I have pardoned any thing, for your sakes have I done it in the person of Christ:

¹¹ That we be not overreached by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his devices.

¹² And when I was come to Troas for the gospel of Christ and a door was opened unto me in the Lord,

¹³ I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but bidding them farewell, I went into Macedonia.

¹⁴ Now thanks be to God, who always maketh us to triumph in Christ Jesus and manifesteth the odour of his knowledge by us in every place.

¹⁵ For we are the good odour of Christ unto God, in them that are saved and in them that perish. CCC · Fathers

¹⁶ To the one indeed the odour of death unto death: but to the others the odour of life unto life. And for these things who is so sufficient? Fathers

¹⁷ For we are not as many, adulterating the word of God: but with sincerity: but as from God, before God, in Christ we speak.