2 Corinthians 2

1 But I determined this with myself, that my next visit to you should not be in sorrow.

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

2 For if I make you sorrowful, who is there to make me glad but he that is made sorrowful by me?

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

3 And I wrote about this very matter, that I might not on my coming have sorrow from those who ought to gladden me, having confidence in all of you, that my joy is the joy of you all.

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.

4 For out of much distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that ye should be made sorrowful, but that ye might know the exceeding love which I have for you.

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.

5 But if any one hath caused grief, he hath caused it not to me alone, but in a measure, not to be too severe on him, to all of you.

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

6 Sufficient for such a one is this punishment, which was inflicted by the many;

This person suffered enough punishment from the majority of you,

7 so that on the contrary ye ought rather to forgive, and console him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

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

8 Wherefore I beseech you to confirm your love toward him.

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

9 For to this end also I wrote, that I might know by putting it to the proof, whether ye are obedient in all things.

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

10 But to whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also; for what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, for your sakes I forgave it in the person of Christ,

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

11 that Satan might not gain an advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

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

12 Now when I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, and a door had been opened to me by the Lord,

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

13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.

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

14 But thanks be to God, who always exhibiteth us in triumph in Christ, and manifesteth through us the odor of the knowledge of him in every place.

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!

15 For we are to God a sweet odor of Christ among those who are being saved, and those who are perishing;

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.

16 to the latter we are the odor of death, producing death; and to the former the odor of life, producing life. And who is sufficient for these things?

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?

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

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.