Having, then, this purpose, did I act with levity? Or in my purposes do I resolve according to the flesh, that with me there should be now yea, yea, and now nay, nay?

But I determined this with myself, that my next visit to you should not be in sorrow.

For out of much distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that ye should be made sorrowful, but that ye might know the exceeding love which I have for you.

so that on the contrary ye ought rather to forgive, and console him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

and he died for all, that they who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who died for their sakes, and rose again.

since we are careful of this, that no one should blame us in our management of this abundant liberality;

But I sent the brethren, that our boasting of you should not prove unfounded in this respect; that, as I said, ye may be prepared;

lest, should the Macedonians come with me, and find you unprepared, we (not to say ye) should be put to shame in respect to this confidence.

For even if I should boast still more highly of our authority, which the Lord gave us for building you up, and not pulling you down, I should not be put to shame;

but I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve by his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from singleheartedness toward Christ.

For if I should desire to boast, I should not be a fool; for I should say the truth; but I forbear, lest any one should think of me above what he seeth me to be, or what he heareth from me.