For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction taking place in Asia, because we were burthened exceedingly, above our power, so that we despaired even of living:

but we had the answer of death in ourselves, in order that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God who raised the dead:

For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and purity of God, not in carnal wisdom, but in the grace of God, we have sojourned in the world, and especially towards you.

For we do not write other things to you, but those things which you read and know, and I hope that you will know them perfectly:

But God is faithful, that our word which is to you is not yes and no.

For Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the one being preached by us, through me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but it was yes in him.

But I call God to witness to my soul, that sparing you I did not yet come into Corinth:

not that we domineer over your faith, but we are fellow-workers of your joy: for by faith you stand.

But I determined this to myself, not again to come unto you in sorrow.

And I wrote this same thing, in order that, having come, I may not have grief over those from whom it behooves me to rejoice; and having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

For out of much tribulation and anguish of heart, I wrote to you through many tears; not in order that you may be grieved, but that you may know the divine love which I have unto you exceedingly.

But if any one has grieved you all, he has not grieved me, but in part, that I may not burden you excessively.

in order that we may not be gobbled up by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

and I had no rest to my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus: but having bidden them adieu, I came away into Macedonia.

For we are not as many, corrupting the word of God: but as of purity, but as from God, we speak in Christ, in the presence of God.

Do we again begin to commend ourselves? or whether have we need of commendatory letters to you or from you, as some do?

being manifest that you are the letter of Christ, having been ministered by us, having been written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God: not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh.

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

who also rendered us able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit creates life.

But if the ministry of death, having been written in letters of stone, was in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look upon the face of Moses on account of the glory of his countenance; which was destined to be done away:

how will not the ministry of the spirit be more in glory?

and not as Moses put the veil on his face, in order that the sons of Israel might not look forward to the end of that which was transitory.

But their minds were darkened. For until this day the same veil remains in the reading of the old covenant, remains, not lifted; because it is done away in Christ;

Therefore having this ministry, as we have obtained mercy, we faint not;

but we lay aside the hidden things of disgrace, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but in the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every conscience of men, before God.

in whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who believe not, in order that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, may not shine on them.

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

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, in order that the excellency of the power, may be of God, and not of us;

in everything being troubled, but not in difficulties incorrigible; being at a loss, but not utterly at a loss;

being persecuted, but not forsaken; being cast down, but not destroyed;

Therefore we faint not; but if indeed our external man perishes, yet our internal man is renewed day by day.

we not looking at the things which are visible, but the things which are invisible; for the visible things are temporary, but the invisible things are eternal.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle may be taken down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.

if indeed having been invested, we shall not be found unclothed.

For indeed being in this tabernacle we groan, being burdened; not that we wish to be divested, but invested, that mortality may be swallowed up of life.

(for we walk by faith, not by sight);

We are not commending ourselves to you, but giving you occasion of boasting in our behalf, in order that you may have response to those who glory in appearance, and not in heart.

and he died for all, in order that those living may not live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them and is risen.

as that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their transgressions to them, even having placed in us the word of reconciliation.

But working together we indeed intreat you not to have received the grace of God in vain:

giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, in order that the ministry may not be blamed;

as being unknown, and perfectly known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and not killed;

Be not straitened in reference to us, but be straitened in your own affections.

Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what participation is there to righteousness and unrighteousness? or what fellowship has light unto darkness?

Therefore come out from the midst of them, and be ye separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

I do not speak for castigation: for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to die with you and to live with you.

and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted by you, proclaiming unto us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced the more.

But if I grieved you in the letter, I do not regret it, if indeed I did regret it; for I see that, if that letter indeed grieved you for an hour,

now I rejoice, not because you grieved, but because you grieved unto repentance: for you grieved toward God, in order that you may receive damage by us in nothing.

For a godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world works out death.

Since then indeed I wrote to you, not on account of the one having done the wrong, nor on account of the one having suffered the wrong, but in order that your zeal, which is in our behalf to you before God, might be made manifest.

because if I have gloried with him in anything over you, I wag not made ashamed; but as I spoke all things to you in truth, so our rejoicing over Titus was true.

and not as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us through the will of God:

I speak not according to commandment, but through the zeal of others also proving the sincerity of your divine love.

And herein I give my judgement: for this is profitable to you, who not only began to do, but to be anxious, a year ago:

For if there is first a willing mind, it is acceptable according to what one may have, and not according to what he has not.

For it is not that there may be relief to others, affliction to you, but that it may be according to equality: at this time your abundance may correspond to their deficiency,

as has been written, He that had much did not super-abound; and he that had little did not lack.

not only so, but having been elected by the churches our traveling companion with this philanthropy, administered by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and your promptitude:

for we provide things honest, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also before the people.

But I sent the brethren, in order that our boasting which is in your behalf may not be in vain in this region; in order that, as I was saying, your were ready:

lest perhaps, if the Macedonians may come with me, and find you unprepared, we may be put to shame, in this confidence, (that we may say not, you).

Therefore I considered it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they may come to you beforehand, and perfect your preannounced benefaction, that it may be ready, as a benefaction, not as a stingy contribution.

As each one has predetermined in his heart; not of reluctance, or of constraint: for God loves the hilarious giver.

Because the ministry of this free-will offering is not only supplying the deficiencies of the saints, but also superabounding through much thanksgiving to God;

but I pray, that being present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I consider myself bold towards certain ones who regard us as walking about according to the flesh.

For walking in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh;

for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to God unto the pulling down of strongholds;

For if I shall in any thing the more abundantly boast concerning our power which the Lord gave us for your edification, and not for your destruction, I will not be ashamed:

in order that I may not seem as it were to terrify you by my letters.

For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain ones of those who recommend themselves: but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves to themselves, are not wise.

But we will not boast in things without measure, but according to the measure of the rule which measure God has measured to us, to reach even unto you.

For not as not reaching unto you do we stretch ourselves, for we have advanced in the gospel of Christ even unto you:

and not boasting in things without measure, in the labors of others, but having hope of your faith increasing among you, to be magnified according to our rule exceedingly,

to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, not to glory according to the rule of others in things made ready.

for he that commends himself is not approved, but whom the Lord commends.

For if indeed one coming preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or you receive another spirit, which you did not receive, or another gospel which you did not receive, well do you bear with him.

For I consider that I am not inferior to the chief of the apostles.

If indeed rude in speech, but not in knowledge; but in every thing making manifest unto you in all things.

for the brethren, having come from Macedonia, supplied my deficiency; and in everything I rendered myself not burdensome to you, and will so render.

The truth of Christ is in me, that this glorying shall not cease unto me in the regions of Achaia.

Why? because I do not love you with divine love? God knows.

Again I say, Let no one consider me to be a fool; but if not, receive me as a fool, in order that I may indeed glory some little.

What I say, I am not saying according to the Lord, but as it were in folly, in this confidence of glorying.

thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice was I shipwrecked, a day and a night I spent in the deep.

Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I do not burn?

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one being blessed forever, knows that I lie not.

It behooves me to glory, indeed it is not profitable, I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

I knew a man in Christ, fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I know not; whether out of the body, I know not, such a one having been caught up even to the third heaven.

And I knew such a man, whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not; God knows,

Concerning such a one I will glory: but concerning myself I will not glory, except in my infirmities.

For if I shall wish to glory, I will not be a fool; for I speak the truth: but I fear, lest some one may consider with reference to me above what he sees me, or hears from me.

And that I may not be exalted by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given unto me in the flesh, the messenger of Satan that he may buffet me, in order that I may not be exalted.

I have become a fool: you did compel me. For I ought to be commended by you: for I am not inferior to the very chief of the apostles, if indeed I am nothing.

For what is that in which you are inferior to other churches, except that I did not burden you? forgive me this wrong.

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not spare: for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up treasures for the parents, but the parents for the children,

But let it he so, I did not burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

I called Titus, and sent the brother along with him: whether did Titus defraud you? did we not walk by the same Spirit? did we not in the same tracks?

For I fear lest, having come, I may not find you as I wish, and may not be found by you as you wish; lest perhaps strife, jealousy, animosities, selfseekings, calumniations, eavesdroppings, inflations, outfallings, are among you;

lest, I again having come, my God will humble me before you, and I will mourn over many of those having previously committed sins, and not having repented over the uncleanness and the fornication and debauchery which they have done.