And our hope for you [is] firm, [because we] know that as you are sharers in the sufferings, so also [you will be sharers] in the comfort.

Therefore, [when I] was wanting [to do] this, perhaps then was I making use of vacillation? Or was I deciding what I was deciding according to the flesh, in order that with me my "yes" may be "yes" and my "no" [may be] "no" [at the same time]?

But God [is] faithful, so that our word to you is not "yes" and "no."

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us, by me and Silvanus and Timothy, did not become "yes" and "no," but has become "yes" in him.

Now the one who establishes us together with you in Christ and who anoints us [is] God,

For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not so that you may be caused to be sad, but so that you may know the love that I have especially for you.

Because for this [reason] also I wrote, in order that I could know your proven character, whether you are obedient in everything.

Now to whomever you forgive anything, I also [do]; for indeed, whatever I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, [it is] {for your sake} in the presence of Christ,

Now [when I] arrived in Troas for the gospel of Christ and a door was opened for me by the Lord,

Now we possess such confidence through Christ toward God.

who also makes us adequate [as] servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord [is, there is] freedom.

[because we] know that the one who raised Jesus will also raise us together with Jesus and present [us] together with you.

For we know that if our earthly house, the tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens.

Now the one who has prepared us for this very [thing] [is] God, who has given us the down payment, the Spirit.

Therefore, [although we are] always confident and know that [while we] are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--

Therefore, [because we] know the fear of the Lord, we are attempting to persuade people, but we are revealed to God, and I hope to be revealed in your consciences.

And he died for all, in order that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.

So then, from now on we know no one {from a human point of view}, if indeed we have known Christ {from a human point of view}, but now we know [him this way] no longer.

Therefore if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; the old [things] have passed away; behold, new [things] have come.

He made the one who did not know sin [to be] sin on our behalf, in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him.

Now [because we] are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

For he says, "At the acceptable time I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now [is] the acceptable time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation!

[We are] giving no one an occasion for taking offense in anything, in order that our ministry will not have fault found [with it],

Now the same [way] [in] exchange (I am speaking as to children), you open wide [your hearts] also.

{Make room for us in your hearts}. We have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have defrauded no one.

For even [when] we arrived in Macedonia, our body had no rest, but we were afflicted in every [way]--quarrels outside, fears within.

now I rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved to repentance. For you were grieved according to [the will of] God, so that you suffered loss in no way through us.

Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that [although he] was rich, for your sake he became poor, in order that you, by his poverty, may become rich.

So now also complete the doing [of it], in order that just as [you have] the eagerness to want [to do it], thus also [you may] complete [it] from [what you] have.

And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times in many [things] that he is diligent, but now much more diligent [because of his] great confidence in you.

because I know your readiness [to help], [concerning] which I keep on boasting to the Macedonians about you, that Achaia has been ready [to help] since last year, and your zeal has stirred up the majority [of them].

Now [the point is] this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Now the one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed, and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow,

Now I, Paul, appeal to you myself by the humility and gentleness of Christ, who {when I am present in person} [am] humble among you, but [when I] am absent am bold toward you--

now I ask [when I] am present [that I will] not [need] to be bold with the confidence [with] which I propose to show boldness toward some who consider us as behaving according to the flesh.

because it is said, "His letters [are] severe and powerful, but his bodily presence [is] weak and his speech is of no account."

For I consider myself in no way to be inferior to the preeminent apostles.

And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light.

I know a man in Christ fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or outside the body I do not know, God knows--such a man was caught up to the third heaven,

and I know this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows--

For if I want to boast, I will not be foolish, because I will be telling the truth, but I am refraining, so that no one can credit to me more than what he sees [in] me or hears anything from me,

I have become a fool! You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for [I am] in no way inferior to the preeminent apostles, even if I am nothing.

I have already said when was present the second time, and [although I] am absent now also say in advance to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare [anyone],

Now we pray to God that you not do wrong in any way, not that we are seen as approved, but that you do what is good, even [though] we are [seen] as though unqualified.