ye also labouring together for us in prayer, that from many persons thanks may be given on our behalf for the gifts bestowed on us by many.

and through you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia return unto you, and by you to be forwarded on my journey towards Judea.

Such then being my intention, did I indeed change it with levity? or the things which I purpose, do I purpose after the flesh, that with me there should be yea, yea, and nay, nay?

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us??y me and Silvanus and Timotheus??as not yea and nay, but there was yea in him;

But I appeal to God as a witness unto my soul, that to spare you I have not yet come to Corinth:

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

And I have written unto you for this very purpose, that I might not, when I come to you, have sorrow from those in whom I ought to rejoice, having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

Now if any person hath given cause for grief, he hath not grieved me [merely], but partly all of you; that I may add no farther burden.

For to this end also have I written, that I may know by this proof of you if ye are obedient in all things.

But when I came to Troas to preach the Gospel of Christ, though a door was opened unto me by the Lord,

I had no test in my spirit on my not finding there Titus my brother: so taking my leave of them I went forth unto Macedonia.

always bearing about in the body the death pangs of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.

For we who are yet alive are continually delivered up to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace, through the thanksgiving of more persons, may more abound to the glory of God.

that so invested, we may not be found naked.

For we which are in this tabernacle, groan, being burdened; wherein we desire not to be unclothed, but clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life.

wherefore also our ambition is, that whether dwelling in the body, or out of the body, we may be acceptable to him.

For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that each may receive the things done in the body according to what he hath done, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have an answer for those who glory in countenance, and not in heart.

or what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, "I will inhabit in them, and walk about in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be for me a people."

and I will be as a father unto you, and ye shall be to me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

Great is my freedom of speech to you, great is my glorying over you: I am filled with consolation, I overflow with joy in all our tribulation.

and not by his coming only, but also by the consolation wherewith he had been comforted among you, declaring to us your fervent desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced the more.

And in this I give my opinion: for this is expedient for you, who have before begun not only to do, but also to be willing a year ago.

Now then accomplish also the doing it, that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be also to perform out of that which ye have.

but that according to equality, your abundance on the present occasion should afford a supply for their deficiency, that their abundance also may supply your deficiency, that there may be equality.

and not only so, but who was chosen by the churches as my fellow-traveller with this charity, ministered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and [to shew] your ready mind.

If [any inquire] concerning Titus, he is my companion and fellow-labourer to you; or our brethren [be inquired of], they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

NOW concerning the contribution for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write unto you.

But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying in you might not be vain in this matter; that as I have said, ye may be prepared.

Lest haply if the Macedonians come with me, and find you unprepared, we (not to say, you) may be confounded in this confidence of boasting. I

have thought it necessary therefore to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and prepare before your promised bounty, that it may be ready as a matter of bounty, and not as [extorted] of covetousness.

And God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that in every case having always all sufficiency, ye may abound unto every good work:

But I pray, that when I am present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I purpose to act resolutely against some who think of us, as if we walked after the flesh.

that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

I WISH ye would bear with me a little in my foolishness, yea indeed bear with me.

For though I may be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but on every occasion we have been made manifest in all things among you.

And when I was with you, and in want, I was burdensome to no man; for my want the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied; and on every occasion I have kept myself from being burdensome, and will keep myself.

I protest, by the truth of Christ in me, that from this boasting no man shall seal up my lips in the regions of Achaia.

But what I do, I will do also, that I may cut off occasion from those who desire occasion, that wherein they boast, they may be found even as we.

I repeat it again, Let no man suppose that I am a fool; but if otherwise, then as a fool receive me, that I too may boast myself a little.

I speak with reference to the reproach [cast on me], as though we were feeble; but wherein any man is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own countrymen, in perils from the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the desert, in perils on the sea, in perils among false brethren;

and beside all these things from without, that accumulated burden which cometh on me daily, the care of all the churches.

If I must glory, I will glory in the things which respect my infirmities.

In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes, intending to seize me;

IT is not expedient doubtless for me to boast. I will yet come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

Of such a one will I boast; but in myself will I not boast, save in my infirmities.

For though I should be disposed to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I shall speak truth: but I desist, lest any man think of me above what he seeth me to be, or what he heareth of me.

And that I might not be lifted up above measure by the transcendent greatness of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the angel Satan, to buffet me, that I might not be lifted up above measure.

For this thrice I besought the Lord, that he might depart from me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may fix its residence in me.

Have I become a fool in boasting? ye have compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing have I been inferior to the very chief apostles, though I be nothing.

For what is there wherein ye have been inferior to the other churches, except that I have not been burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.

and lest when I come to you again, my God should bow me down, and I should lament over many who have sinned before, and have not repented of the impurities, and whoredom, and lasciviousness which they have committed.

since ye demand a proof that Christ speaketh in me, who to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

Now I pray unto God that ye do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you may do that which is laudable, though we should be as reprobates.

For this cause, though absent, I have written these things, that when I am present I may not use severity, according to the power which the Lord hath given me for edification, and not for destruction.