2 Corinthians 2

1 And I decided this to myself, not again to come in sorrow unto you,

So I decided for my own part that I would not again come to you in painful circumstances.

2 for if I make you sorry, then who is he who is making me glad, except he who is made sorry by me?

If I caused you pain, who could cheer me up but the very one who was hurt by me?

3 and I wrote to you this same thing, that having come, I may not have sorrow from them of whom it behoved me to have joy, having confidence in you all, that my joy is of you all,

I wrote as I did in order that when I came to you I might not be hurt by those who should have made me rejoice. I have confidence about all of you that my joy is the same joy you all have.

4 for out of much tribulation and pressure of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not that ye might be made sorry, but that ye might know the love that I have more abundantly toward you.

For I wrote to you from great affliction, with anguish of heart, and with many tears. I did not want to cause you pain. Instead, I wanted you to know the depth of the love that I have for you.

5 And if any one hath caused sorrow, he hath not caused sorrow to me, but in part, that I may not burden you all;

If anyone has caused pain, he has not caused it only to me, but in some measure—not to put it too harshly—to all of you.

6 sufficient to such a one is this punishment, that [is] by the more part,

This punishment of that person by the majority is enough.

7 so that, on the contrary, [it is] rather for you to forgive and to comfort, lest by over abundant sorrow such a one may be swallowed up;

So now rather than punishment, you should forgive and comfort him. Do this so that he is not overwhelmed by too much sorrow.

8 wherefore, I call upon you to confirm love to him,

So I encourage you to publicly affirm your love for him.

9 for, for this also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether in regard to all things ye are obedient.

This was the reason I wrote, so that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything.

10 And to whom ye forgive anything — I also; for I also, if I have forgiven anything, to whom I have forgiven [it], because of you — in the person of Christ — [I forgive it, ]

If you forgive anyone, I forgive that person as well. What I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—it is forgiven for your sake in the presence of Christ.

11 that we may not be over-reached by the Adversary, for of his devices we are not ignorant.

This is so that Satan will not trick us. For we are not ignorant of his plans.

12 And having come to Troas for the good news of the Christ, and a door to me having been opened in the Lord,

A door was opened to me by the Lord when I came to the city of Troas to preach the gospel of Christ there.

13 I have not had rest to my spirit, on my not finding Titus my brother, but having taken leave of them, I went forth to Macedonia;

I had no relief in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I left them and went on to Macedonia.

14 and to God [are] thanks, who at all times is leading us in triumph in the Christ, and the fragrance of His knowledge He is manifesting through us in every place,

But may thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph. Through us he spreads the sweet aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

15 because of Christ a sweet fragrance we are to God, in those being saved, and in those being lost;

For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ, both among those who are saved and among those who are perishing.

16 to the one, indeed, a fragrance of death to death, and to the other, a fragrance of life to life; and for these things who is sufficient?

To the people who are perishing, it is an aroma from death to death. To the ones being saved, it is an aroma from life to life. Who is worthy of these things?

17 for we are not as the many, adulterating the word of God, but as of sincerity — but as of God; in the presence of God, in Christ we do speak.

For we are not like so many people who sell the word of God for profit. Instead, with purity of motives, we speak in Christ, as we are sent from God, in the sight of God.