For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

But the one having wrought us out unto this same thing is God, the one having given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Being always confident therefore, and knowing that while we are present in the body we are absent from the Lord,??7 we walk by faith, not by sight;??8 but we are confident, and are pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

for we walk by faith, not by sight; but we have courage,

but we are confident and delighted rather to be absent from the body, and present with the Lord.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

For it is the love of Christ which is moving us; because we are of the opinion that if one was put to death for all, then all have undergone death;

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

So that we henceforth know no one according to flesh; but if even we have known Christ according to flesh, yet now we know him thus no longer.

But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;

how that God was in Christ -- a world reconciling to Himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses; and having put in us the word of the reconciliation,

But as fellow-workmen, we also beseech that ye receive not the grace of God in vain:

we put no obstruction in anyone’s path, so that the ministry will not be discredited,

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

through glory and dishonour, through bad report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true,

as unknown, and well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as disciplined, and not put to death;

as grieved, but always rejoicing; as poor, but enriching many; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.

but for an answering recompense, (I speak as to children,) let your heart also expand itself.

Are you not become associates with infidels? but what affinity is there between virtue and vice? and what communication has light with darkness?

For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

But he who encourages those that are brought low, even God, encouraged us by the coming of Titus;

And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

For, behold, this same thing, your being grieved according to God, how much diligence it wrought in you, but what excusing of yourselves, but what indignation, but what fear, but what ardent desire, but what zeal, but what vengeance: in every way ye have proved yourselves to be pure in the matter.

Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

Therefore we have been comforted. But we rejoiced the more exceedingly in our consolation over the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all:

For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

But we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God bestowed in the assemblies of Macedonia;

And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

so that we could not but desire Titus to accomplish the same benevolence among you also, even as he had begun.

But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us,'see that ye abound in this grace also.

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

for what a man gives with a ready mind, according to his abilities, is well received; but not when he goes beyond his circumstances.

For [this is] not that for others [there may be] relief, [and] for you difficult circumstances, but [as a matter] of equality.

But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

but we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the glad tidings through all the assemblies;

And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:

And so that no man might be able to say anything against us in the business of this giving which has been put into our hands:

Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

But there is no need for me to say anything in my letter about the giving to the saints:

But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared:

lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence.

That is why I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you [before I come] and make arrangements in advance for this generous, previously promised gift of yours, so that it would be ready, not as something extorted [or wrung out of you], but as a [voluntary and] generous gift.

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

But let each give according to the purpose of his heart; not grudgingly of under compulsion. It is a cheerful giver that God loves.

But God is able to make every gracious gift abound towards you, that, having in every way always all-sufficiency, ye may abound to every good work:

But he that gives seed to the sower, will also give bread to the eater, and multiply your sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:

For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

Of course, we are living in the world, but we do not wage war in a world-like way.

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

and I am fully prepared to punish every act of disobedience, when once your submission has been put beyond question.

For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame:

[But I forbear,] that I may not seem as though I would terrify you by epistles.

For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

Let such people realize that what we say by word in letters when we are absent, is the same as what we are in action when present.

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: but indeed ye do bear with me.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

For if the one who comes proclaims another Jesus whom we have not proclaimed, or you receive a different spirit which you did not receive, or a different gospel which you did not accept, you put up with [it] well [enough]!

For I consider myself not to be one bit inferior to those "super apostles." [Note: Paul is referring to his opponents there in Corinth who claimed apostolic authority].

But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

Or did I [perhaps] sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted and honored, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge?

But the truth of Christ in me, this boasting of mine shall never be stopped in the boundaries of Greece.

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

and no wonder; for satan himself may put on the appearance of an angel of light.

So it is no great surprise if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, but their end will correspond with their deeds.

I say again, let no man think me foolish; but if ye do , yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little.

That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

For [because you] are wise, you put up with foolish people gladly!

For ye bear if any one bring you into bondage, if any one devour you, if any one get your money, if any one exalt himself, if any one beat you on the face.

I speak as to dishonour, as though we had been weak; but wherein any one is daring, (I speak in folly,) I also am daring.

Are they [self-proclaimed] servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if I were out of my mind—I am more so [for I exceed them]; with far more labors, with far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, and often in danger of death.

Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.

many times on journeys, [exposed to] danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own countrymen, danger from the Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger on the sea, danger among those posing as believers;

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, but I burn with indignation?

But if it behooves me to glory, I will glory in those things appertaining to my infirmities.

In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas put guards around the city of Damascus to catch me,

but through an opening in the wall I was let down in a basket, and so escaped his hands.

I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

I have knowledge of a man in Christ, fourteen years back (if he was in the body, or out of the body, I am not able to say, but God only), who was taken up to the third heaven.

And I have knowledge of such a man (if he was in the body, or out of the body, I am not able to say, but God only),

was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words which man is not permitted to speak [words too sacred to tell].

Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.