2 Corinthians 1

1 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.

Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy, the brother, to the congregation of God which is in Corinth, together with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

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

Favor to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of tender mercies, and the God of all consolation!

4 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.

who comforts us in all out affliction, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any affliction, by the consolation with which they are comforted of God.

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

For as the sufferings for Christ abound in us, also, our consolation abounds through Christ.

6 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.

Now, whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort, and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effected by enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer.

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

And out hope of you is steadfast, knowing that, as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the comfort.

8 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.

Wherefore, brethren, we would not have you ignorant concerning our affliction, which happened to us in Asia; that we were exceedingly pressed above our strength, insomuch as we despaired even of life.

9 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.

Nay, more, we ourselves had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead;

10 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.

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

11 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.

you, also, laboring together in prayer for us, that the gift to us from many persons, may, by many, be acknowledged with thanksgiving for us.

12 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.

For this is our glorying--the testimony of our conscience, that with godly simplicity and sincerity, (not with fleshly wisdom, but by the favor of God, ) we have behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly among you.

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

For we write no other things to you than what you read, and also acknowledge; and I hope that you will acknowledge, even to the end;

14 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.

seeing, indeed, you have acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

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

And in this persuasions I purposed to come to you first, that you might have a second gift;

16 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.

and from you to pass through into Macedonia, and from Macedonia to come again to you, and by you to be sent forward into Judea.

17 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?

Having, then, purposed this, did I, indeed, use levity? or the things which I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh; so that with me there should be yes, yes, and no, no?

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

But as God is faithful, certainly our word, which was to you, was not yes and no.

19 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.”

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, even by me and Sylvanus, and Timothy, was not yes and no; but in him was yes.

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

And whatever promises are of God, were through him yes, and through him amen, to the glory of God, by us.

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

Now, he who establishes us with you in Christ, and who has anointed us, in God:

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

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

23 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.

Moreover, I call on God as a witness against my soul, that to spare you, I have not as yet come to Corinth.

24 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.

Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are joint promoters of your joy: for by the faith you stand.