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;

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;

yea, we ourselves had within ourselves the sentence of death, that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead;

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.

And in this confidence it was my purpose to come to you before, that ye might receive a second benefit;

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

not that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy. For in respect to faith ye stand firm.

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

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.

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.

For to this end also I wrote, that I might know by putting it to the proof, whether ye are obedient in all things.

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

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

But if the ministration of death, engraven in letters on stones, was so glorious, that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses by reason of the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done away,

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.

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 if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to them that perish,

in whom the God of this world blinded the understandings of the unbelieving, so that they cannot behold the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For it is God, who commanded light to shine out of darkness, that shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

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

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

For we who live are continually delivered up to death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, "I believed, and therefore I spoke," we also believe, and therefore speak;

knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise up us also with Jesus, and will present us with you.

For all things are for your sakes, that the grace abounding by means of the greater number may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

For we know that, if our earthly tenthabitation be destroyed, we have a building provided by God, a house not made with hands, everlasting, in the heavens.

For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened; inasmuch as we do not desire to be unclothed, but to be clothed upon, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

Now he that hath prepared us for this very thing is God; who also gave to us the Spirit as the pledge.

We have courage, therefore, always, and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;

Wherefore we also strive that, whether at home or absent, we may be approved by him.

For we must all be made manifest before the judgmentseat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he did, whether good or bad.

For we are not again commending ourselves to you, but giving you occasion to glory on our behalf; that ye may have somewhat to answer those who glory in outward appearance, and not in heart.

For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judged, that if one died for all, then all died;

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.

So that we henceforth know no one according to the flesh; and if we have even known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we no longer know him.

seeing that in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Him, who knew not sin, he made sin for us, that we might become Gods righteousness in him.

As fellowworkers, then, with him, we also exhort you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain;

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

I am not saying this to condemn you; for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die with you and to live with you.

But God, that comforteth those who are brought low, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

and not by his coming only, but by the comfort with which he was comforted in regard to you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal in my behalf; so that I rejoiced the more.

For though I caused you sorrow with the letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it; for I perceive that that letter caused you sorrow, though it was but for a short time.

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorrowful, but that your sorrow produced repentance. For the sorrow which ye felt had respect to God, that ye might in nothing receive injury from me.

For behold this very thing, that your sorrow had respect to God; what earnestness it wrought in you; yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what longing desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what readiness to punish! In every thing ye showed yourselves to be pure in the matter.

Although, then, I wrote to you, it was not on account of him that did the wrong, nor of him who suffered wrong; but that your earnestness for us might be made manifest to you in the sight of God.

I rejoice that in every thing I have confidence in you.

that under a great trial of distress the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty increased the riches of their liberality;

so that we urged Titus, that, as he had already made a beginning, so he would also finish among you this bounty also.

But as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this exercise of liberality also.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

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

For it is not that others may be eased, and you burdened,

but to make an equality; at the present season your abundance meeting their deficiency, that their abundance may at another time meet your deficiency; that there may be equality;

as it is written: "He that gathered much, had nothing over; and he that gathered little, had no lack."

and not that only, but who was also appointed by the churches as our fellowtraveler in the matter of this bounty, which is administered by us to the honor of the Lord himself, and of our ready mind;

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

For I know your readiness of mind, of which I boast in behalf of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was prepared a year ago; and your zeal stirred up the greater part of them.

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;

I thought it necessary therefore to exhort the brethren to go before to you, and make up beforehand your bounty, which was already announced, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not of covetousness.

But this there is to say: He that soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully.

And God is able to make every blessing abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work;

Now, he that ministereth seed to the sower, and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;

but I entreat you, that I may not when I am present be bold with that confidence wherewith I think of being bold towards some, who think of us as walking according to the flesh.

casting down reasonings, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing every purpose into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Ye look at the outward appearance. If any one trusteth to himself that he belongeth to Christ, let him of himself consider this again, that as he belongeth to Christ, so also do we.

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

Let such a one count upon this, that such as we are in word by letters when absent, such will we be also in deed when present.

But we will not boast of things that are without our measure, but according to the measure of the line which God allotted us,a measure to reach even to you.

not boasting of things that are without measure, in other mens labors, but having hope, when your faith is increased, that our line will through you be still further extended,

so that we may preach the gospel in the regions beyond you; not boasting, in anothers line, of things made ready to our hand.

But "he that boasteth, let him boast in the Lord."

For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but he whom the Lord commendeth.

Would that ye could bear with me in a little folly! and indeed ye do bear with me.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye did not receive, or another gospel, which ye did not accept, well might ye bear with it.

For I suppose that I am in no respect behind the very foremost apostles.

Did I commit an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God without charge?

But what I do, that I will continue to do, that I may cut off occasion from those who wish for an occasion, in order that in the matter of which they boast they may be found even as we.

I say again, let no one suppose me a fool; if otherwise, yet even as a fool receive me, that I too may boast myself a little.

Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will boast also.

I say it to my reproach, that we were weak; but in whatever any one is bold, (I speak in folly,) I am bold also.

Besides the other troubles, there is that which presseth upon me daily, the anxiety for all the churches.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I am not lying.

that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

And that I might not be too much lifted up by the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet me, that I might not be too much lifted up.

In respect to this I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me;

and he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may abide upon me.

I have become a fool; it is ye that compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the very foremost apostles, though I am nothing.

For what is there in which ye were at disadvantage when compared with other churches, except that I myself was not a charge to you? Forgive me this wrong.

Have ye been thinking this long time that we are defending ourselves to you? It is before God in Christ that we are speaking; but all things, beloved, for your edification.

and lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many of those who have sinned already, and did not repent of the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, which they committed.