Paul’s Joy in the Corinthians

1Therefore having these promises, beloved, we should cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2Make room for us. We wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one. 3I do not speak for condemnation; for I have before said that you⁺ are in our hearts for us to die together and to live together. 4Much is my boldness toward you⁺; much is my boasting on behalf of you⁺; I have been filled with encouragement; I overabound with joy upon all our tribulation.

5For also of our having come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest; but we are being pressed in every way: conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6But God, the One comforting the downcast, comforted us in the coming of Titus, 7and not only in his coming, but also in the comfort with which he was comforted over you⁺, declaring to us your⁺ longing, your⁺ mourning, your⁺ zeal for me, so as for me to rejoice the more.

8For if also I grieved you⁺ in the letter, I do not regret it—even if I did regret it; for I see that the letter grieved you⁺, that even if for an hour. 9Now I rejoice, not that you⁺ were grieved, but that you⁺ were grieved unto repentance. For you⁺ were grieved according to God, so that you⁺ might suffer loss in nothing through us. 10For grief according to God works repentance unto salvation without regret; but the grief of the world produces death.

11For behold how much earnestness this same thing—to have been grieved† according to God—produced in you⁺: but defense, but indignation, but fear, but longing, but zeal, but avenging! In everything, you⁺ commended yourselves to be innocent in the matter. 12So even if I wrote to you⁺, it was not for the sake of the one having done wrong, nor for the sake of the one having suffered wrong, but for the sake of your⁺ earnestness for us† being made manifest to you⁺ before God. 13On account of this, we have been comforted.

And upon our comfort,† we rejoiced more abundantly rather at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you⁺. 14For if I have boasted anything to him about you⁺, I was not put to shame; but as we spoke all things to you⁺ in truth, so also our boasting to Titus became truth. 15And his affections are more abundantly for you⁺, remembering the obedience of all of you⁺, how you⁺ received him with fear and trembling. 16I rejoice† that in everything I am confident in you⁺.

Footnotes:

11 BYZ and TR include you to have been grieved.
12 Scrivener TR our earnestness for you
13 BYZ and TR upon your comfort
16 Scrivener TR I rejoice, therefore,