2 Corinthians 1

1 Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ by God's will, and the brother Timotheus, to the assembly of God which is in Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia.

To the Church of God which is in Corinth, and to all the saints throughout Greece. from Paul, by God’s will an apostle of Christ, and from brother Timothy.

2 Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father in the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions, and God of all encouragement;

Thanks be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort,

4 who encourages us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to encourage those who are in any tribulation whatever, through the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged of God.

who ever comforts me in all my troubles, so that I may be continually able to comfort those who are in any trouble by the comfort with which God is ever comforting me.

5 Because, even as the sufferings of the Christ abound towards us, so through the Christ does our encouragement also abound.

For just as I have more than my share in the sufferings of the Christ, so also through the Christ I have more than my share of comfort.

6 But whether we are in tribulation, [it is] for your encouragement and salvation, wrought in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer,

If I am afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if I am receiving comfort, it is for your comfort - a comfort produced within you by your patient fortitude, under the same sufferings which I also am enduring.

7 (and our hope for you [is] sure; ) or whether we are encouraged, [it is] for your encouragement and salvation: knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the encouragement.

My hope for you is firm; for I know that as you are comrades in my sufferings, so also are you comrades in my comfort.

8 For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, as to our tribulation which happened [to us] in Asia, that we were excessively pressed beyond [our] power, so as to despair even of living.

Now, brothers, I want you to know about the troubles which befell me in Asia; how I was burdened altogether beyond my strength, so that I renounced all hope even of life itself.

9 But we ourselves had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not have our trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;

Indeed, I had in myself, and still have, the sentence of death, in order that I might not rely on myself, but on God who raises the dead to life.

10 who has delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver; in whom we confide that he will also yet deliver;

He delivered me from such a death, and will deliver me. On him I have set my hopes that he will continue to deliver me,

11 ye also labouring together by supplication for us that the gift towards us, through means of many persons, may be the subject of the thanksgiving of many for us.

while all of you also are helping me by your prayers; so that from many lips thanksgiving may rise on my behalf for the blessings vouchsafed to me through the intercessions of many.

12 For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and sincerity before God, (not in fleshly wisdom but in God's grace, ) we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly towards you.

For this is my proud boast, the testimony of my conscience, that it was in holiness and with pure motives before God, not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God, that I have conducted myself in the world, and above all in my relations with you.

13 For we do not write other things to you but what ye well know and recognise; and I hope that ye will recognise to the end,

For I am writing to you nothing different from what you read aloud and very well recognize, and I hope will continue to recognize to the very end,

14 even as also ye have recognised us in part, that we are your boast, even as ye [are] ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

as some indeed did recognize in part at last, that I am your cause of boasting, just as you will be mine on the Day of Jesus our Lord.

15 And with this confidence I purposed to come to you previously, that ye might have a second favour;

And in this confidence I intended to visit you, before going elsewhere, that you might have a pleasure twice over.

16 and to pass through to Macedonia by you, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to be set forward by you to Judaea.

I intended to go by you into Macedonia, and to come again to you from Macedonia, and by you to be sent forward on my way to Judea.

17 Having therefore this purpose, did I then use lightness? Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to flesh, that there should be with me yea yea, and nay nay?

In purposing this did I display "caprice"? Or what I purpose do I purpose in a worldly way, so that it may mean either "Yes, yes," or "No, no"?

18 Now God [is] faithful, that our word to you is not yea and nay.

As God is faithful, my message to you is not now "Yes," now "No."

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, he who has been preached by us among you (by me and Silvanus and Timotheus), did not become yea and nay, but yea is in him.

For Jesus Christ, Son of God, who was proclaimed among you by us, that is, by Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not wavering between "Yes" and "No," but in him is the everlasting "Yes."

20 For whatever promises of God [there are], in him is the yea, and in him the amen, for glory to God by us.

For however many are the promises of God, in him they are "Yes." Therefore also through him let the Amen be said by our voices to the glory of God.

21 Now he that establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, [is] God,

And he who has established me with you in the Anointed One, and has anointed me, is God.

22 who also has sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

He has also set his seal upon me, and given me the pledge of his Spirit in my heart.

23 But I call God to witness upon my soul that to spare you I have not yet come to Corinth.

But for my part I call God to witness, as my soul shall answer for it, that it was to spare you that I came not to Corinth

24 Not that we rule over your faith, but are fellow-workmen of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

(not that I am attempting to lord it over your faith, but rather to work with you for your happiness); for your faith is stedfast.