and I wrote to you this same thing, that having come, I may not have sorrow from them of whom it behoved me to have joy, having confidence in you all, that my joy is of you all,

for out of much tribulation and pressure of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not that ye might be made sorry, but that ye might know the love that I have more abundantly toward you.

And if any one hath caused sorrow, he hath not caused sorrow to me, but in part, that I may not burden you all;

sufficient to such a one is this punishment, that is by the more part,

so that, on the contrary, it is rather for you to forgive and to comfort, lest by over abundant sorrow such a one may be swallowed up;

for, for this also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether in regard to all things ye are obedient.

that we may not be over-reached by the Adversary, for of his devices we are not ignorant.

manifested that ye are a letter of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in the tablets of stone, but in fleshy tablets of the heart,

not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything, as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God,

and if the ministration of the death, in letters, engraved in stones, came in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look stedfastly to the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face -- which was being made useless,

for also even that which hath been glorious, hath not been glorious -- in this respect, because of the superior glory;

for if that which is being made useless is through glory, much more that which is remaining is in glory.

and are not as Moses, who was putting a vail upon his own face, for the sons of Israel not stedfastly to look to the end of that which is being made useless,

in whom the god of this age did blind the minds of the unbelieving, that there doth not shine forth to them the enlightening of the good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God;

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

at all times the dying of the Lord Jesus bearing about in the body, that the life also of Jesus in our body may be manifested,

for always are we who are living delivered up to death because of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our dying flesh,

so that, the death indeed in us doth work, and the life in you.

And having the same spirit of the faith, according to that which hath been written, 'I believed, therefore I did speak;' we also do believe, therefore also do we speak;

knowing that He who did raise up the Lord Jesus, us also through Jesus shall raise up, and shall present with you,

for the all things are because of you, that the grace having been multiplied, because of the thanksgiving of the more, may abound to the glory of God;

For we have known that if our earthly house of the tabernacle may be thrown down, a building from God we have, an house not made with hands -- age-during -- in the heavens,

for also in this we groan, with our dwelling that is from heaven earnestly desiring to clothe ourselves,

if so be that, having clothed ourselves, we shall not be found naked,

for we also who are in the tabernacle do groan, being burdened, seeing we wish not to unclothe ourselves, but to clothe ourselves, that the mortal may be swallowed up of the life.

having courage, then, at all times, and knowing that being at home in the body, we are away from home from the Lord, --

for all of us it behoveth to be manifested before the tribunal of the Christ, that each one may receive the things done through the body, in reference to the things that he did, whether good or evil;

for not again ourselves do we recommend to you, but we are giving occasion to you of glorifying in our behalf, that ye may have something in reference to those glorifying in face and not in heart;

for the love of the Christ doth constrain us, having judged thus: that if one for all died, then the whole died,

and for all he died, that those living, no more to themselves may live, but to him who died for them, and was raised again.

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

so that if any one is in Christ -- he is a new creature; the old things did pass away, lo, become new have the all things.

how that God was in Christ -- a world reconciling to Himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses; and having put in us the word of the reconciliation,

for him who did not know sin, in our behalf He did make sin, that we may become the righteousness of God in him.

And working together also we call upon you that ye receive not in vain the grace of God --

in nothing giving any cause of offence, that the ministration may be not blamed,

not to condemn you do I say it, for I have said before that in our hearts ye are to die with and to live with;

and not only in his presence, but also in the comfort with which he was comforted over you, declaring to us your longing desire, your lamentation, your zeal for me, so that the more I did rejoice,

because even if I made you sorry in the letter, I do not repent -- if even I did repent -- for I perceive that the letter, even if for an hour, did make you sorry.

I now do rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry to reformation, for ye were made sorry toward God, that in nothing ye might receive damage from us;

because of this we have been comforted in your comfort, and more abundantly the more did we rejoice in the joy of Titus, that his spirit hath been refreshed from you all;

I rejoice, therefore, that in everything I have courage in you.

And we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,

so that we exhorted Titus, that, according as he did begin before, so also he may finish to you also this favour,

but even as in every thing ye do abound, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, that also in this grace ye may abound;

for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that because of you he became poor -- being rich, that ye by that poverty may become rich.

and now also finish doing it, that even as there is the readiness of the will, so also the finishing, out of that which ye have,

for if the willing mind is present, according to that which any one may have it is well-accepted, not according to that which he hath not;

for not that for others release, and ye pressured, do I speak,

but by equality, at the present time your abundance -- for their want, that also their abundance may be for your want, that there may be equality,

and not only so, but who was also appointed by vote by the assemblies, our fellow-traveller, with this favour that is ministered by us, unto the glory of the same Lord, and your willing mind;

avoiding this, lest any one may blame us in this abundance that is ministered by us,

and we sent with them our brother, whom we proved in many things many times being diligent, and now much more diligent, by the great confidence that is toward you,

For, indeed, concerning the ministration that is for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you,

for I have known your readiness of mind, which in your behalf I boast of to Macedonians, that Achaia hath been prepared a year ago, and the zeal of you did stir up the more part,

and I sent the brethren, that our boasting on your behalf may not be made vain in this respect; that, according as I said, ye may be ready,

lest if Macedonians may come with me, and find you unprepared, we -- we may be put to shame (that we say not -- ye) in this same confidence of boasting.

Necessary, therefore, I thought it to exhort the brethren, that they may go before to you, and may make up before your formerly announced blessing, that this be ready, as a blessing, and not as covetousness.

and God is able all grace to cause to abound to you, that in every thing always all sufficiency having, ye may abound to every good work,

and I beseech you, that, being present, I may not have courage, with the confidence with which I reckon to be bold against certain reckoning us as walking according to the flesh;

The things in presence do ye see? if any one hath trusted in himself to be Christ's, this let him reckon again from himself, that according as he is Christ's, so also we are Christ's;

for even if also anything more abundantly I shall boast concerning our authority, that the Lord gave us for building up, and not for casting you down, I shall not be ashamed;

that I may not seem as if I would terrify you through the letters,

This one -- let him reckon thus: that such as we are in word, through letters, being absent, such also, being present, we are in deed.

and we in regard to the unmeasured things will not boast ourselves, but after the measure of the line that the God of measure did appoint to us -- to reach even unto you;

O that ye were bearing with me a little of the folly, but ye also do bear with me:

and I fear, lest, as the serpent did beguile Eve in his subtilty, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in the Christ;

for I reckon that I have been nothing behind the very chiefest apostles,

The sin did I do -- myself humbling that ye might be exalted, because freely the good news of God I did proclaim to you?

and what I do, I also will do, that I may cut off the occasion of those wishing an occasion, that in that which they boast they may be found according as we also;

Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if otherwise, even as a fool receive me, that I also a little may boast.

That which I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this the confidence of boasting;

in reference to dishonour I speak, how that we were weak, and in whatever any one is bold -- in foolishness I say it -- I also am bold.

apart from the things without -- the crowding upon me that is daily -- the care of all the assemblies.

the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ -- who is blessed to the ages -- hath known that I do not lie! --

that he was caught away to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for man to speak.

and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch.

Concerning this thing thrice the Lord did I call upon, that it might depart from me,

and He said to me, 'Sufficient for thee is My grace, for My power in infirmity is perfected;' most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:

for what is there in which ye were inferior to the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this injustice!

Again, think ye that to you we are making defence? before God in Christ do we speak; and the all things, beloved, are for your up-building,

lest again having come, my God may humble me in regard to you, and I may bewail many of those having sinned before, and not having reformed concerning the uncleanness, and whoredom, and lasciviousness, that they did practise.

I have said before, and I say it before, as being present, the second time, and being absent, now, do I write to those having sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare,

Your own selves try ye, if ye are in the faith; your own selves prove ye; do ye not know your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, if ye be not in some respect disapproved of?

and I hope that ye shall know that we -- we are not disapproved of;

and I pray before God that ye do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is right, and we may be as disapproved;

because of this, these things -- being absent -- I write, that being present, I may not treat any sharply, according to the authority that the Lord did give me for building up, and not for casting down.

who did give himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of the present evil age, according to the will of God even our Father,

I wonder that ye are so quickly removed from Him who did call you in the grace of Christ to another good news;

that is not another, except there be certain who are troubling you, and wishing to pervert the good news of the Christ;

And I make known to you, brethren, the good news that were proclaimed by me, that it is not according to man,

for ye did hear of my behaviour once in Judaism, that exceedingly I was persecuting the assembly of God, and wasting it,

to reveal His Son in me, that I might proclaim him good news among the nations, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood,

And the things that I write to you, lo, before God -- I lie not;

and was unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea, that are in Christ,

and only they were hearing, that 'he who is persecuting us then, doth now proclaim good news -- the faith that then he was wasting;'

and I went up by revelation, and did submit to them the good news that I preach among the nations, and privately to those esteemed, lest in vain I might run or did run;

and that because of the false brethren brought in unawares, who did come in privily to spy out our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus, that us they might bring under bondage,

to whom not even for an hour we gave place by subjection, that the truth of the good news might remain to you.

but, on the contrary, having seen that I have been entrusted with the good news of the uncircumcision, as Peter with that of the circumcision,