2 Corinthians 7
1 With these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that pollutes either body or spirit, and, in deepest respect for God, aim at perfect holiness.
Having therefore, these, promises, beloved, let us purify ourselves from all pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in fear of God.
2 Make room for us in your hearts. In no instance have we ever wronged, or harmed, or taken advantage of, anyone.
Give place to us! no one, have we wronged, no one, have we corrupted, no one, have we defrauded.
3 I am not saying this to condemn you. Indeed, I have already said that you are in our heart, to live and die together.
Unto condemnation, I am not saying [this], for I have before said—In our hearts, are ye, to the end we may die together and live together.
4 I have the utmost confidence in you; I am always boasting about you. I am full of encouragement and, in spite of all our troubles, my heart is overflowing with happiness.
Great, is my freedom of speech towards you, great, is my boasting in behalf of you: I am filled with the encouragement, I am greatly superabounding with the joy, in all our tribulation.
5 Ever since we reached Macedonia, we have had no rest in body or mind; on every side there have been troubles – conflicts without, anxieties within.
For, even when we came into Macedonia, no relief at all, had our flesh; but, in every way, were we in tribulation, —without, fightings! within, fears!
6 But God, who encourages the downcast, has encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.
But, he who encourageth them that are brought low, encouraged us, —even God, —by the presence of Titus.
7 And it is not only by his arrival that we are encouraged, but also by the encouragement which he received from you; for he tells us of your strong affection, your penitence, and your zeal on my behalf – so that I am happier still.
Not, however, by his presence alone, but also by the encouragement wherewith he had been encouraged over you: recounting unto us your earnest desire, your lamentation, your zeal in my behalf. So that I the more rejoiced.
8 For, though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Even if I were inclined to regret it – for I see that my letter did cause you sorrow though only for a time –
Because, if I even grieved you by the letter, I do not regret, —though I could even have regretted, —I see that that letter, if even for an hour, did cause you grief.
9 I am glad now; not because of the sorrow it caused you, but because your sorrow brought you to repentance. For it was God’s will that you should feel sorrow, in order that you should not suffer loss in any way at our hands.
Now, am I rejoicing, —not that ye were grieved, but that ye were grieved unto repentance; for ye were grieved according to God, in order that, in nothing, should ye receive damage from us.
10 For, when sorrow is in accordance with God’s will, it results in a repentance leading to salvation, and which will never be regretted. The sure result of the sorrow that the world knows is death.
For, grief according to God, worketh, repentance unto salvation, not to be regretted; although, the grieving of the world, worketh, death.
11 For see what results that other sorrow – sorrow in accordance with God’s will – has had in your case. What earnestness it produced! What explanations! What strong feeling! What alarm! What longing! What eagerness! What readiness to punish! You have proved yourselves altogether free from guilt in that matter.
For lo! this very thing—the being caused to grieve, according to God: —what manner of diligence it wrought out in you, —nay! defence, —nay! sore displeasure, —nay! fear, —nay! earnest desire, —nay! jealousy, —nay! avenging. In every way, ye shewed yourselves to be, chaste, in the matter.
12 So, then, even though I did write to you, it was not for the sake of the wrongdoer, or of the man who was wronged, but to make you conscious, in the sight of God, of your own earnest care for us. And it is this that has encouraged us.
Hence, if I even wrote unto you, it was not for the sake of him that did the wrong, [nay] not even for the sake of him that suffered the wrong; but for the sake of your earnestness, which was on our account, being made manifest unto you, before God: -
13 In addition to the encouragement that this gave us, we were made far happier still by the happiness of Titus for his heart has been cheered by you all.
For this cause, have we received encouragement. In addition to our encouragement, however, much more abundantly, have we rejoiced over the joy of Titus, —that his spirit hath received refreshment from you all,
14 Although I have been boasting a little to him about you, you did not put me to shame; but, just as every thing we had said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus about you has also proved to be the truth.
That, if in anything—unto him—in your behalf—I have boasted, I have not been put to shame; but, as, all things, in truth, we told you, so, even our boasting before Titus, turned out to be, truth.
15 And his affection for you is all the greater, as he remembers the deference that you all showed him, and recalls how you received him with anxious care.
And, his tender affections, are, much more abundantly towards you, when he calleth to mind the obedience, of you all, —how, with fear and trembling, ye gave him welcome.
16 I am glad that I can feel perfect confidence in you.
I rejoice that, in everything, I am of good courage respecting you.
