For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, as to our tribulation which happened in Asia, - that, exceedingly, beyond power, were we weighed down, so that we despaired, even of life.

But, we ourselves, within ourselves, have had the sentence of death, that we might not rest our confidence upon ourselves, but upon God, who raiseth the dead,

For, our boasting, is, this, - the witness of our conscience, that, in sanctity and sincerity of God, and not in fleshly wisdom, but in God's favour, have we behaved ourselves in the world, - and more abundantly towards you.

Faithful, however, is God, in that, our discourse, which was delivered unto you, is not Yea and Nay;

For, the Son of God, Christ Jesus - who, among you, through us, was proclaimed, - through me, and Silvanus, and Timothy, became not Yea and Nay, - but Yea, in him, hath it become;

But, I, call upon God, as a witness, against my own soul, - that, to spare you, not yet, have I come unto Corinth:

Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are, helpers, of your joy, for, by your faith, ye stand.

For I have determined, unto myself, this - not, again, in grief, to come unto you.

And I wrote this very thing - lest, if I came, I should have, grief, from those over whom I had need to rejoice, - having confidence in you all, that, my joy, is the joy, of you all.

For, out of much tribulation and anguish of heart, wrote I unto you, through many tears, - not that ye might be grieved, but that, the love, ye might know, which I have very abundantly unto you.

Now, if anyone hath caused grief, not unto me hath he caused grief, but - that I may not bear too heavily - unto you all.

Lest we should be overreached by Satan, for, of his thoughts, we are not ignorant.

I had no relief in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother; but, taking my leave of them, I came away into Macedonia.

For we are not, as the many, driving a petty trade with the word of God; but, as of sincerity, but, as of God, before God, in Christ, we speak.

Are we to begin again, ourselves, to commend? or have we need, like some, of commendatory letters unto you, or from you?

Manifesting yourselves that ye are a letter of Christ, ministered by us, - inscribed - not with ink, but with the Spirit of a Living God, not in tablets of stone, but in tablets which are hearts of flesh.

Not that, of our own selves, sufficient, are we, to reckon anything as of ourselves, but, our sufficiency, is of God; -

Who also hath made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant - not of letter, but of spirit, for, the letter, killeth, whereas, the Spirit, maketh alive.

But, if, the ministry of death, in letters engraven in stones, was brought into existence with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look steadfastly into the face of Moses, by reason of the glory of his face - which glory was to be done away,

How shall not, rather, the ministry of the Spirit, be with glory?

For that which hath been made glorious, hath not even been made glorious, in this respect, - by reason of the surpassing glory.

And are not just like Moses, who kept putting a veil upon his face, so that the sons of Israel should not look steadily unto the end of that which was to be done away.

But their thoughts were turned into stone: for, until this very day, the same veil, upon the reading of the old covenant, abideth, not to be removed, because, in Christ, it is to be done away;

Wherefore, having this ministry, even as we received mercy, we faint not;

But have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, - but, by the manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves unto every conscience of men, in the sight of God.

In whom, the god of this age, hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, to the end they may not discern the radiance e of the glad-message of the glory of the Christ - who is the image of God.

For, not ourselves, do we proclaim, but Christ Jesus, as Lord, and, ourselves, as your servants for Jesus' sake.

Howbeit we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that, the surpassing greatness of the power, may be of God, and not from ourselves: -

On every side, pressed hard, but not hemmed in, without a way, but not without a by-way,

Pursued, but not abandoned, thrown down, but not destroyed; -

Wherefore we faint not, but, even if, our outer man, is decaying, nevertheless, our inner man , is renewing day by day.

So long as we are not looking out for the visible things, but for the invisible; for, the visible things, are temporary, whereas, the invisible, are age-abiding.

For we know that - -if, our earthly tent-dwelling, should be taken down, we have, a building of God, a dwelling not made by hand, age-abiding in the heavens.

Although, indeed, even clothing ourselves, we shall not be found, naked; -

And verily, we who are in the tent, do sigh, being weighed down, while yet we are not wishing to unclothe ourselves, but to clothe ourselves over, - in order that, what is mortal, may be swallowed up, by life.

By faith, are we walking, not by sight; -

Not again, ourselves, do we commend unto you, but as though an occasion we were giving unto you - something to boast of, in our behalf; that ye may have something suited unto them who, in appearance, are boasting, and not in heart.

How that, God, was in Christ, reconciling, a world, unto himself, not reckoning, unto them, their offences, - and hath put, in us, the reconciling discourse.

Him who knew not sin, in our behalf, he made to be, sin, that we might become God's righteousness in him.

As co-workers, however, we also beseech, that, not in vain, the favour of God, ye welcome;

Giving, no single, occasion of stumbling, in anything, that the ministry be not blamed;

as unknown, and yet well-known, as dying, and lo! we live, as disciplined, and yet not put to death,

Ye are not straitened in us, but are straitened in your hearts' affections;

Be not getting diversely yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship hath light with darkness?

Wherefore come ye forth out of their midst, and be separated, - saith the Lord, - and, one impure, do not touch; and, I, will give you welcome,

Unto condemnation, I am not saying this , for I have before said - In our hearts, are ye, to the end we may die together and live together.

Not, however, by his presence alone, but also by the encouragement wherewith he had been encouraged over you: recounting unto us your earnest desire, your lamentation, your zeal in my behalf. So that I the more rejoiced.

Because, if I even grieved you by the letter, I do not regret, - though I could even have regretted, - I see that that letter, if even for an hour, did cause you grief.

Now, am I rejoicing, - not that ye were grieved, but that ye were grieved unto repentance; for ye were grieved according to God, in order that, in nothing, should ye receive damage from us.

For, grief according to God, worketh, repentance unto salvation, not to be regretted; although, the grieving of the world, worketh, death.

Hence, if I even wrote unto you, it was not for the sake of him that did the wrong, naynot even for the sake of him that suffered the wrong; but for the sake of your earnestness, which was on our account, being made manifest unto you, before God:-

That, if in anything - unto him - in your behalf - I have boasted, I have not been put to shame; but, as, all things, in truth, we told you, so, even our boasting before Titus, turned out to be, truth.

And, not merely as we hoped, but, themselves, gave they, first, unto the Lord and unto us through God's will,

Not by way of injunction, do I speak, but through, others', earnestness, and, the genuineness of your own love, putting to the test.

And, a judgment, herein, do I give, - for, this, unto you, is profitable, - who, indeed, not only of the doing, but of the desiring, made for yourselves a beginning a year ago; -

For, if the forwardness is set forth, according to what one may have, he is well approved, not according to what one hath not.

For, not that unto others should be relief, and unto you distress do I speak , but, by equality, in the present season, your surplus for their deficiency, -

Even as it is written - He that gathered the much, had not more than enough, and, he that gathered the little, had not less,

Not only so, however, but he hath also been appointed by the assemblies, as a fellow-traveler with us in this favour, which is being ministered by us with a view to the Lord's glory and our earnest desire: -

For we provide things honourable, not only before the Lord, but also before men.

Nevertheless I have sent the brethren, that, our boast in your behalf, be not made void, in this respect, that, even as I was saying, ye may be prepared, -

Lest by any means, if there should come with me Macedonians, and find you unprepared, we, - not to say, ye, - should be put to shame in this confidence.

Necessary, therefore, I regarded it, to exhort the brethren that they would go forward unto you, and make up beforehand your previously-promised blessing. The same, to be ready - thus, as a blessing, and not as of constraint.

Each one, according as he hath purposed in his heart, not sorrowfully, nor of necessity, - for, a cheerful giver, God, loveth.

Because, the ministry of this public service, is not only towards filling up the deficiencies of the saints, but also superabounding, through the thanksgiving of many, unto God, -

I entreat, however, that, when present, I may not be bold with the assurance wherewith I think to be daring against some who account of us as though, according to flesh, we were walking, -

For, though, in flesh, we walk, not, according to flesh, do we war, -

For, the weapons of our warfare, are not fleshly, but mighty, by God, unto a pulling down of strongholds, -

Yea, if, somewhat more abundantly, I should boast concerning our authority - which the Lord hath given for building up and not for pulling you down, I shall not be put to shame, -

That I may not seem as though I would be terrifying you through means of my letters;

For we dare not class or compare ourselves with some who do, themselves, commend; but, they, among themselves, measuring, themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without discernment!

We, however, not as to the things without measure, will boast ourselves, but, according to the measure of the limit which God apportioned unto us, as a measure - to reach as far as even you!

For, not as though we were not reaching unto you, are we over-stretching ourselves, for, as far as even you, were we beforehand in the glad-message of the Christ:

Not, as to the things without measure, boasting ourselves in other men's toils, but having, hope - your faith, growing - among you, to be enlarged, according to our limit for something beyond, -

Unto the regions beyond you, to carry the glad-message: not, within another man's limit, as to the things made ready, to boast ourselves.

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

For, if, indeed, he that cometh, is proclaiming, another Jesus, whom we have not proclaimed, or, a different Spirit, ye are receiving, which ye had not received, or a different glad-message, which ye have never welcomed, ye are, well, bearing.

For I reckon not to have come a whit behind the exceeding overmuch apostles;

And, even if uncultured in my discourse, certainly not in my knowledge, - but, in every way, having made it manifest, in all things, unto you.

And, being present with you, and having come short, I was not burdensome to anyone, - for, my deficiency, the brethren, coming from Macedonia, helped to make up; - and, in everything, without burden unto you, I kept, myself - and will keep!

Truth of Christ is in me, that, this boasting, shall not be silenced unto me, in the regions of Achaia.

Wherefore? Because I love you not? God, knoweth!

What I am saying, not according to the Lord, am I saying, but as in foolishness, - in this my boastful confidence!

Thrice, have I been beaten with rods, once, have I been stoned, thrice, have I been shipwrecked, a day and night, in the deep, have I spent;

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and, I, am not burning?

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus, knoweth - He who is blessed unto the ages - that I am not speaking falsely:

To be boasting, is needful, - it is not, indeed, profitable, yet will I come to visions and revelations of the Lord: -

I know a man in Christ, who, fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not, God, knoweth, such a one as this, caught away, as far as the third heaven;

And I know such a man as this, whether in the body or apart from the body, I know not, - God, knoweth,

How that he was caught away into paradise, and heard unspeakable things, which it is not allowable for a man to utter:

On behalf of such a one as this, will I boast, but, on behalf of myself, will I not boast, save in my weaknesses; -

Although in fact, if I should wish to boast, I shall not be foolish, for, the truth, would I speak; but I forbear, lest anyone, unto me, should reckon above what he beholdeth me to be , or heareth from me, - even by the exceeding greatness of the revelations.

I have become foolish, - ye, compelled me: - I, in fact, ought, by you, to have been commended; for, not a whit, have I come behind the exceeding overmuch apostles, - even if I am nothing:

For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, - save that, I myself, would not allow myself to be a burden unto you? Forgive me this wrong!

Lo! this third time, I am holding myself, in readiness, to come unto you, and I will not allow myself to be a burden; for I seek not yours, but you; - for, the children, ought not to lay up, for the parents, but the parents for the children; -

But let it be! - I, myself, did not burden you, - Notwithstanding, being crafty, with guile, I caught you?

I exhorted Titus, and sent with him the brother, - Did, Titus, overreach you? Was it not, in the same spirit, we walked? Was it not, in the same steps?

For I fear - lest, by any means, when I come, not such as I wish, should I find you, and, I, should be found by you, such as ye do not wish; - lest, by any means, I should find strife, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, factions, railings, whisperings, puffed up pretensions, confusions; -

Lest, when I again come, my God should humble me in regard to you, - and I should grieve over many who had before sinned, and not repented of the impurity, and fornication, and wantonness which they had committed.

I have said beforehand, and do say beforehand, - as present the second time, although now absent, unto them who before sinned, and unto all the rest, - that, if I come again, I will not spare.