2 Corinthians 1

1 PAUL an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy a brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, and to all the believers in the entire region of Achaia.

2 grace unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

May grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all consolation;

May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be praised. He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.

4 who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we might be able to comfort those who are in all tribulation, by the consolation with which we ourselves are comforted of God.

God comforts us in all our affliction, so that we can comfort those who are in any affliction. We comfort others with the same comfort that God used to comfort us.

5 Because as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so through Christ aboundeth also our consolation.

For just as the sufferings of Christ abound for our sake, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

6 But whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectually wrought by patient endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer; or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort. Your comfort is working effectively when you patiently share in the same sufferings that we also suffer.

7 And our hope of you is sure, knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the consolation.

Our expectation concerning you is unshaken, for we know that as you share the sufferings, you also share our comfort.

8 For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, of the tribulation which came to us in Asia, that above measure we have been burdened beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life:

For we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the troubles we had in Asia. We were so completely crushed beyond our strength that we despaired even of life.

9 for we ourselves, in ourselves have received the sentence of death, that we should have no confidence in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead.

Indeed, we had the sentence of death on us. But that was to make us not put our trust in ourselves, but instead in God, who raises the dead.

10 Who from so imminent a prospect of death hath delivered us, and still delivers: in whom we trust also that he will yet deliver us:

He rescued us from such a deadly peril, and he will rescue us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.

11 ye also labouring together for us in prayer, that from many persons thanks may be given on our behalf for the gifts bestowed on us by many.

He will do this as you also help us by your prayer. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor given to us through the prayers of many.

12 For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with carnal wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and peculiarly towards you.

We are proud of this: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world with holiness and godly sincerity, not relying on fleshly wisdom but on the grace of God.

13 For we write no other things to you than those which you know and acknowledge; and I trust also ye will acknowledge them even to the end.

We write to you nothing that you cannot read and understand. I expect that,

14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your glory, as also ye are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

as you have understood us in part, we will be your reason for boasting on the day of our Lord Jesus, just as you will be our reason to boast.

15 And in this confidence I was intending to come unto you a second time, that ye might receive a second blessing;

Because I was confident about this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might receive the benefit of two visits.

16 and through you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia return unto you, and by you to be forwarded on my journey towards Judea.

I was planning to visit you on my way to Macedonia. Then I wanted to visit you again on my trip from Macedonia, and then for you to send me on my way to Judea.

17 Such then being my intention, did I indeed change it with levity? or the things which I purpose, do I purpose after the flesh, that with me there should be yea, yea, and nay, nay?

When I was thinking this way, was I hesitating? Do I plan things according to human standards, so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time?

18 But as sure as God is true, our word to you was not yea and nay.

But just as God is faithful, we do not say both “Yes” and “No.”

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us―by me and Silvanus and Timotheus―was not yea and nay, but there was yea in him;

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom Silvanus, Timothy and I proclaimed among you, is not “Yes” and “No.” Instead, he is always “Yes.”

20 for all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, to the glory of God by us.

For all the promises of God are “Yes” in him. So also through him we say “Amen” to the glory of God.

21 Now he that confirmeth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

Now it is God who confirms us with you in Christ, and he appointed us,

22 who also hath put his seal upon us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

he set his seal on us and he gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee of what is to come.

23 But I appeal to God as a witness unto my soul, that to spare you I have not yet come to Corinth:

Instead, I call God to bear witness for me that the reason I did not come to Corinth was so that I might spare you.

24 not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow-helpers of your joy; for by faith ye stand.

This is not because we are trying to control what your faith should be. Instead, we are working with you for your joy, as you stand in your faith.