2 Corinthians 2

1 That's why I decided that I would avoid another sad visit with you.

But I determined this in myself, that with sorrow I would not again come to you:

2 For if I make you sad, who will be there to make me happy? It won't be those I've made sad!

for if I cause you to grieve, who is he that makes me glad, but he that is made sorry by me?

3 That's why I wrote what I did, so that I wouldn't be sad over those who should make me happy. I was so sure that all of you would share in my happiness.

And I wrote to you this very thing, that, on coming to you, I might not have sorrow from those from whom I ought to receive joy; because I have confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

4 I was crying many tears when I wrote to you, in great anguish and with a heavy heart—not to make you sad, but so you would know how much love I have for you.

For out of much affliction and distress of heart, I wrote to you with many tears: not that you might be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly for you.

5 Not to put it too strongly, but the person caused more pain to all of you than to me.

But if any one has caused grief, he has grieved, not me only, but, in some measure―not to speak harshly―all of you.

6 This person suffered enough punishment from the majority of you,

Sufficient for such a one is the punishment, which was inflicted by the greater number:

7 so now you should forgive him and be kind to him. Otherwise he may sink into despair.

so that, on the other hand, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest such a one should be swallowed up in too much sorrow.

8 So I urge you to publicly affirm your love towards him.

Wherefore, I exhort you to give him an assurance of your love.

9 That's why I wrote: so I could discoverer your true character and whether you're doing everything you were told to do.

For I wrote to you for this purpose also, that I might have a sure proof from you, whether you are obedient in all things.

10 Anyone you forgive, I forgive too. What I have forgiven, whatever it may be, I have forgiven before Christ for your benefit.

Whom you forgive any thing, I forgive it also: for what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven any thing, I have forgiven for your sake, in the person of Christ,

11 In this way Satan will not be able to take us in, because we know the tricks he thinks up.

lest an advantage should be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

12 Now when I arrived in Troas to spread the good news of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me.

And when I came to Troas to preach the gospel of the Christ, and a door was opened to me in the Lord,

13 But my mind wasn't at peace because I couldn't find my brother Titus. So I said goodbye and went over to Macedonia.

I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but I took leave of them, and went into Macedonia.

14 But praise be to God, who always leads us in a triumphal procession in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet scent of his knowledge wherever we go!

Now, thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in the Christ, and sheds in every place, by us, the fragrance of the knowledge of himself.

15 We are like a fragrance of Christ to God, rising up from among those who are being saved as well as those who are dying.

For, through God, we are a sweet odor of Christ, among the saved, and among the lost:

16 To those who are dying it is the smell of decay, while to those who are being saved it is the scent of life! But who is up to such an assignment?

to the one, we are the odor of death ending in death; to the other, the odor of life ending in life: and who is sufficient for these things?

17 We are not like the majority who trade in the word of God for profit. Quite the opposite: we are sincere in sharing the word of God in Christ, knowing God is watching us.

For we do not, as the many, adulterate the word of God; but, as from sincerity, but, as from God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.