I wrote to you in sore trouble and distress of heart and with many tears, not to give you pain, but to let you see how intense a love I have for you.

Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.

Though hard pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in; through perplexed, never driven to despair;

For all this is for your sakes, that the loving-kindness of God, spreading from heart to heart, may cause yet more hearts to overflow with thanksgiving, to his glory.

Therefore, as I said, we do not lose heart. No, even though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

We have been speaking freely to you, men of Corinth; we have opened our heart;

I am not saying this to condemn you. Indeed, I have already said that you are in our very heart, to live and die together.

I have the utmost confidence in you; I am always boasting about you. I am full of encouragement and, in spite of all our troubles, my heart is overflowing with happiness.

In addition to the encouragement that this gave us, we were made far happier still by the happiness of Titus for his heart has been cheered by you all.

Was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable things of which no human being may tell.