who is comforting us in all our tribulation, for our being able to comfort those in any tribulation through the comfort with which we are comforted ourselves by God;

and whether we be in tribulation, it is for your comfort and salvation, that is wrought in the enduring of the same sufferings that we also suffer; whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort and salvation;

and our hope is stedfast for you, knowing that even as ye are partakers of the sufferings -- so also of the comfort.

For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, of our tribulation that happened to us in Asia, that we were exceedingly burdened above our power, so that we despaired even of life;

ye working together also for us by your supplication, that the gift through many persons to us, through many may be thankfully acknowledged for us.

For our glorying is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God, we did conduct ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you;

for no other things do we write to you, but what ye either do read or also acknowledge, and I hope that also unto the end ye shall acknowledge,

for the Son of God, Jesus Christ, among you through us having been preached -- through me and Silvanus and Timotheus -- did not become Yes and No, but in him it hath become Yes;

for as many as are promises of God, in him are the Yes, and in him the Amen, for glory to God through us;

And I for a witness on God do call upon my soul, that sparing you, I came not yet to Corinth;

not that we are lords over your faith, but we are workers together with your joy, for by the faith ye stand.

for if I make you sorry, then who is he who is making me glad, except he who is made sorry by me?

for out of much tribulation and pressure of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not that ye might be made sorry, but that ye might know the love that I have more abundantly toward you.

so that, on the contrary, it is rather for you to forgive and to comfort, lest by over abundant sorrow such a one may be swallowed up;

for, for this also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether in regard to all things ye are obedient.

And to whom ye forgive anything -- I also; for I also, if I have forgiven anything, to whom I have forgiven it, because of you -- in the person of Christ -- I forgive it,

that we may not be over-reached by the Adversary, for of his devices we are not ignorant.

And having come to Troas for the good news of the Christ, and a door to me having been opened in the Lord,

to the one, indeed, a fragrance of death to death, and to the other, a fragrance of life to life; and for these things who is sufficient?

for we are not as the many, adulterating the word of God, but as of sincerity -- but as of God; in the presence of God, in Christ we do speak.

who also made us sufficient to be ministrants of a new covenant, not of letter, but of spirit; for the letter doth kill, and the spirit doth make alive.

for if the ministration of the condemnation is glory, much more doth the ministration of the righteousness abound in glory;

for also even that which hath been glorious, hath not been glorious -- in this respect, because of the superior glory;

for if that which is being made useless is through glory, much more that which is remaining is in glory.

and are not as Moses, who was putting a vail upon his own face, for the sons of Israel not stedfastly to look to the end of that which is being made useless,

but their minds were hardened, for unto this day the same vail at the reading of the Old Covenant doth remain unwithdrawn -- which in Christ is being made useless --

but did renounce for ourselves the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor deceitfully using the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth recommending ourselves unto every conscience of men, before God;

for not ourselves do we preach, but Christ Jesus -- Lord, and ourselves your servants because of Jesus;

because it is God who said, Out of darkness light is to shine, who did shine in our hearts, for the enlightening of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

for always are we who are living delivered up to death because of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our dying flesh,

for the all things are because of you, that the grace having been multiplied, because of the thanksgiving of the more, may abound to the glory of God;

for the momentary light matter of our tribulation, more and more exceedingly an age-during weight of glory doth work out for us --

we not looking to the things seen, but to the things not seen; for the things seen are temporary, but the things not seen are age-during.

For we have known that if our earthly house of the tabernacle may be thrown down, a building from God we have, an house not made with hands -- age-during -- in the heavens,

for also in this we groan, with our dwelling that is from heaven earnestly desiring to clothe ourselves,

for we also who are in the tabernacle do groan, being burdened, seeing we wish not to unclothe ourselves, but to clothe ourselves, that the mortal may be swallowed up of the life.

for through faith we walk, not through sight --

for all of us it behoveth to be manifested before the tribunal of the Christ, that each one may receive the things done through the body, in reference to the things that he did, whether good or evil;

having known, therefore, the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, and to God we are manifested, and I hope also in your consciences to have been manifested;

for not again ourselves do we recommend to you, but we are giving occasion to you of glorifying in our behalf, that ye may have something in reference to those glorifying in face and not in heart;

for whether we were beside ourselves, it was to God; whether we be of sound mind -- it is to you,

for the love of the Christ doth constrain us, having judged thus: that if one for all died, then the whole died,

and for all he died, that those living, no more to themselves may live, but to him who died for them, and was raised again.

for him who did not know sin, in our behalf He did make sin, that we may become the righteousness of God in him.

for He saith, 'In an acceptable time I did hear thee, and in a day of salvation I did help thee, lo, now is a well-accepted time; lo, now, a day of salvation,' --

Become not yoked with others -- unbelievers, for what partaking is there to righteousness and lawlessness?

and what agreement to the sanctuary of God with idols? for ye are a sanctuary of the living God, according as God said -- 'I will dwell in them, and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people,

and I will be to you for a Father, and ye -- ye shall be to Me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'

Having, then, these promises, beloved, may we cleanse ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God;

not to condemn you do I say it, for I have said before that in our hearts ye are to die with and to live with;

for also we, having come to Macedonia, no relaxation hath our flesh had, but on every side we are in tribulation, without are fightings, within -- fears;

and not only in his presence, but also in the comfort with which he was comforted over you, declaring to us your longing desire, your lamentation, your zeal for me, so that the more I did rejoice,

because even if I made you sorry in the letter, I do not repent -- if even I did repent -- for I perceive that the letter, even if for an hour, did make you sorry.

I now do rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry to reformation, for ye were made sorry toward God, that in nothing ye might receive damage from us;

for the sorrow toward God reformation to salvation not to be repented of doth work, and the sorrow of the world doth work death,

for, lo, this same thing -- your being made sorry toward God -- how much diligence it doth work in you! but defence, but displeasure, but fear, but longing desire, but zeal, but revenge; in every thing ye did approve yourselves to be pure in the matter.

If, then, I also wrote to you -- not for his cause who did wrong, nor for his cause who did suffer wrong, but for our diligence in your behalf being manifested unto you before God --

and his tender affection is more abundantly toward you, remembering the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye did receive him;

for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that because of you he became poor -- being rich, that ye by that poverty may become rich.

and an opinion in this do I give: for this to you is expedient, who not only to do, but also to will, did begin before -- a year ago,

for if the willing mind is present, according to that which any one may have it is well-accepted, not according to that which he hath not;

for not that for others release, and ye pressured, do I speak,

but by equality, at the present time your abundance -- for their want, that also their abundance may be for your want, that there may be equality,

And thanks to God, who is putting the same diligence for you in the heart of Titus,

For, indeed, concerning the ministration that is for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you,

for I have known your readiness of mind, which in your behalf I boast of to Macedonians, that Achaia hath been prepared a year ago, and the zeal of you did stir up the more part,

each one, according as he doth purpose in heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for a cheerful giver doth God love,

and may He who is supplying seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,

through the proof of this ministration glorifying God for the subjection of your confession to the good news of the Christ, and for the liberality of the fellowship to them and to all,

thanks also to God for His unspeakable gift!

for walking in the flesh, not according to the flesh do we war,

for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful to God for bringing down of strongholds,

for even if also anything more abundantly I shall boast concerning our authority, that the Lord gave us for building up, and not for casting you down, I shall not be ashamed;

For we do not make bold to rank or to compare ourselves with certain of those commending themselves, but they, among themselves measuring themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not wise,

for not as not reaching to you do we stretch ourselves overmuch, for even unto you did we come in the good news of the Christ,

for not he who is commending himself is approved, but he whom the Lord doth commend.

for I am zealous for you with zeal of God, for I did betroth you to one husband, a pure virgin, to present to Christ,

and I fear, lest, as the serpent did beguile Eve in his subtilty, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in the Christ;

for if, indeed, he who is coming doth preach another Jesus whom we did not preach, or another Spirit ye receive which ye did not receive, or other good news which ye did not accept -- well were ye bearing it,

for I reckon that I have been nothing behind the very chiefest apostles,

other assemblies I did rob, having taken wages, for your ministration;

and being present with you, and having been in want, I was chargeable to no one, for my lack did the brethren supply -- having come from Macedonia -- and in everything burdenless to you I did keep myself, and will keep.

for those such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,

and no wonder -- for even the Adversary doth transform himself into a messenger of light;

for gladly do ye bear with the fools -- being wise,

for ye bear, if any one is bringing you under bondage, if any one doth devour, if any one doth take away, if any one doth exalt himself, if any one on the face doth smite you;

To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

that he was caught away to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for man to speak.

for if I may wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for truth I will say; but I forebear, lest any one in regard to me may think anything above what he doth see me, or doth hear anything of me;

and He said to me, 'Sufficient for thee is My grace, for My power in infirmity is perfected;' most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:

wherefore I am well pleased in infirmities, in damages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses -- for Christ; for whenever I am infirm, then I am powerful;

I have become a fool -- boasting; ye -- ye did compel me; for I ought by you to have been commended, for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles -- even if I am nothing.

for what is there in which ye were inferior to the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this injustice!

Lo, a third time I am ready to come unto you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I seek not yours, but you, for the children ought not for the parents to lay up, but the parents for the children,

and I most gladly will spend and be entirely spent for your souls, even if, more abundantly loving you, less I am loved.

Again, think ye that to you we are making defence? before God in Christ do we speak; and the all things, beloved, are for your up-building,

for I fear lest, having come, not such as I wish I may find you, and I -- I may be found by you such as ye do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, evil-speakings, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections,

for even if he was crucified from infirmity, yet he doth live from the power of God; for we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him from the power of God toward you.

for we are not able to do anything against the truth, but for the truth;

for we rejoice when we may be infirm, and ye may be powerful; and this also we pray for -- your perfection!