Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy the brother, to the church of God which is in Corinth, with all the holy who are in all Achaia:

who comforteth us in all our distress, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any distress by the comfort wherewith we are ourselves comforted by God;

for as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so through Christ doth our comfort also overflow.

And whether we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation, which showeth its power in enabling you to bear patiently the same sufferings which we also endure; and our hope is steadfast in your behalf; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort and salvation,

knowing that as ye are sharers in the sufferings, so also ye will be sharers in the comfort.

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our distress which came upon us in Asia, that it was exceedingly heavy upon us beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;

who delivered us from such peril of death, and is delivering; in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us,

you also unitedly helping us by prayer, so that for this blessing bestowed on us by means of many, thanks may be given by many on your behalf.

For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and the sincerity which is of God, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.

as also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your glorying, as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yea and nay.

For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us, by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not found yea and nay, but in him hath been found yea.

For as to all the promises of God, in him is yea, and in him amen, to the glory of God through us.

Now he who maketh us with you steadfast in Christ, and anointed us, is God;

he who also sealed us, and gave the Spirit as a pledge in our hearts.

But I call upon God as a witness against my soul, that it was to spare you that I came no more to Corinth;

For if I make you sorrowful, who is there to make me glad but he that is made sorrowful by me?

And I wrote about this very matter, that I might not on my coming have sorrow from those who ought to gladden me, having confidence in all of you, that my joy is the joy of you all.

Sufficient for such a one is this punishment, which was inflicted by the many;

that Satan might not gain an advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

But thanks be to God, who always exhibiteth us in triumph in Christ, and manifesteth through us the odor of the knowledge of him in every place.

to the latter we are the odor of death, producing death; and to the former the odor of life, producing life. And who is sufficient for these things?

For we are not as the many, who adulterate the word of God; but as from sincerity, but as from God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

And such confidence as this have we through Christ toward God;

not that we are able of ourselves to think anything, as from ourselves; but our ability is from God;

who also gave us ability to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.

For if the ministration of condemnation had glory, much greater is the glory of the ministration of righteousness.

For even that which was made glorious hath ceased to be glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory by which it is exceeded.

For if that which was to be done away was glorious, much more glorious is that which endureth.

Having therefore such hope, we use great plainness of speech;

and do not as Moses did, who put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel might not steadfastly look on the end of that which was to be done away.

But their understandings were blinded; for until this day, when the old covenant is read, the same veil remaineth, since it is not unveiled to them that it is done away in Christ;

but even till this day, when Moses is read, there lieth a veil upon their heart;

but whenever it turneth to the Lord, the veil is taken away.