And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a double benefit.

I still had no rest in my mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took my leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was,

For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it.

But their minds were hardened; for to this day, when they read the old covenant, the same veil remains unlifted, because only in Christ is it removed.

For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed, but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.

now I rejoice, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance; for you became sorrowful as God intended, so that you suffered no loss through us.

Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

I rejoice, because I have perfect confidence in you.

And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many matters, but who is now more diligent than ever because of his great confidence in you.

Because of the test of this service, you will glorify God by your obedience in your confession of the gospel of Christ, and by the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others;

while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?

Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

And to keep me from being too elated because of the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated.