you also unitedly helping us by prayer, so that for this blessing bestowed on us by means of many, thanks may be given by many on your behalf.

For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and the sincerity which is of God, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.

And in this confidence it was my purpose to come to you before, that ye might receive a second benefit;

Having, then, this purpose, did I act with levity? Or in my purposes do I resolve according to the flesh, that with me there should be now yea, yea, and now nay, nay?

But I determined this with myself, that my next visit to you should not be in sorrow.

And I wrote about this very matter, that I might not on my coming have sorrow from those who ought to gladden me, having confidence in all of you, that my joy is the joy of you all.

Sufficient for such a one is this punishment, which was inflicted by the many;

For to this end also I wrote, that I might know by putting it to the proof, whether ye are obedient in all things.

And such confidence as this have we through Christ toward God;

For even that which was made glorious hath ceased to be glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory by which it is exceeded.

But their understandings were blinded; for until this day, when the old covenant is read, the same veil remaineth, since it is not unveiled to them that it is done away in Christ;

but even till this day, when Moses is read, there lieth a veil upon their heart;

Therefore, having this ministry through the mercy we received, we are not fainthearted;

in whom the God of this world blinded the understandings of the unbelieving, so that they cannot behold the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not of us;

For while in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven;

For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened; inasmuch as we do not desire to be unclothed, but to be clothed upon, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

Now he that hath prepared us for this very thing is God; who also gave to us the Spirit as the pledge.

I am not saying this to condemn you; for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die with you and to live with you.

For behold this very thing, that your sorrow had respect to God; what earnestness it wrought in you; yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what longing desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what readiness to punish! In every thing ye showed yourselves to be pure in the matter.

and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God;

so that we urged Titus, that, as he had already made a beginning, so he would also finish among you this bounty also.

But as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this exercise of liberality also.

And I only give an opinion in this matter. For this is expedient for you, who began before others, not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.

and not that only, but who was also appointed by the churches as our fellowtraveler in the matter of this bounty, which is administered by us to the honor of the Lord himself, and of our ready mind;

since we are careful of this, that no one should blame us in our management of this abundant liberality;

But I sent the brethren, that our boasting of you should not prove unfounded in this respect; that, as I said, ye may be prepared;

lest, should the Macedonians come with me, and find you unprepared, we (not to say ye) should be put to shame in respect to this confidence.

But this there is to say: He that soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully.

for the ministration of this service not only supplieth the wants of the saints, but also overfloweth through many thanksgivings to God;

while by the proof afforded by this ministration they glorify God for your obedience to your profession in regard to the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution in regard to them and in regard to all;

Ye look at the outward appearance. If any one trusteth to himself that he belongeth to Christ, let him of himself consider this again, that as he belongeth to Christ, so also do we.

Let such a one count upon this, that such as we are in word by letters when absent, such will we be also in deed when present.

And though I am rude in speech, yet I am not in knowledge; but this did we in every respect manifest to you in all things.

As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting shall not be stopped in regard to me in the regions of Achaia.

What I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as it were in folly, in this confidence of boasting.

In respect to this I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me;

For what is there in which ye were at disadvantage when compared with other churches, except that I myself was not a charge to you? Forgive me this wrong.

Behold, I am ready to come to you this third time, and I will not be a charge to you; for I seek not yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

Have ye been thinking this long time that we are defending ourselves to you? It is before God in Christ that we are speaking; but all things, beloved, for your edification.

This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong; this also we pray for, even your perfection.

For this cause I write these things while absent, that when present I may not use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord gave me for edification, and not for destruction.