2 Corinthians 1

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

Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and brother Timothy, to the church of God that is in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

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

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.

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

All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement,

4 Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God.

who encourages us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in whatever affliction, by means of the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ.

Because just as the sufferings of the Christ flow over into us, so also our encouraging overflows, through Christ.

6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

Now then, if we are afflicted, it is for the sake of your encouragement and deliverance, that are effective for enduring the same sufferings that we also are suffering

7 And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation.

(yes, our hope concerning you is steadfast); if we are encouraged, it also is for the sake of your encouragement and deliverance, since we know that you will share in the encouragement just as you do in the sufferings.

8 For we would not, brothers, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life:

And so, brothers, we do not want you to be in ignorance concerning the affliction that came upon us in Asia: we were under extreme pressure, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life.

9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead:

Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, so that we not place confidence in ourselves, but in the God who raises the dead;

10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

He did deliver us from that deadly peril, and still delivers; in whom we trust that He will keep on delivering,

11 You also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed on us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

you also adding your cooperation in prayer, on our behalf; that thanks may be given by many persons for the gift bestowed on us by means of many, on your behalf.

12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

Now this is our boast: the testimony of our conscience that we have conducted ourselves in the world with openness and godly sincerity, not by fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and especially toward you.

13 For we write none other things to you, than what you read or acknowledge; and I trust you shall acknowledge even to the end;

For we do not write you any other things than what you can read and understand; and I do hope that you will keep on understanding to the end

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

(as indeed some of you have acknowledged) that we are your boast, just as you are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

15 And in this confidence I was minded to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit;

It was in this confidence that I was planning to come by you first,

16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia to you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

and by you to proceed into Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia (that you might benefit twice), and then to be sent by you on my way to Judea.

17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yes yes, and no no?

Now then, when I was deciding this, I was not acting frivolously, was I? Or the things I decide, do I decide according to the flesh, so that with me there would be both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yes and no.

As God is faithful, our word to you was not “Yes” and “No”,

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yes and no, but in him was yes.

because the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No”. In fact, with Him it has always been “Yes”,

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

because all the promises of God in Him are “Yes”; indeed, in Him they are “Amen”, that there be glory to God through us.

21 Now he which establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God;

Now He who establishes us together with you into Christ, and who anointed us, is God,

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

who also sealed us and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.

23 Moreover I call God for a record on my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet to Corinth.

For my part, I call on God as witness, upon my soul, that it was to spare you that I have not yet returned to Corinth.

24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith you stand.

(Not that we have control over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for it is by faith that you stand firm.)