⁹ yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. ¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation^(A) and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. ¹¹ See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern,^(B) what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. ¹² So even though I wrote to you,^(C) it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong^(D) nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. ¹³ By all this we are encouraged.

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus^(E) was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. ¹⁴ I had boasted to him about you,^(F) and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus^(G) has proved to be true as well. ¹⁵ And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient,^(H) receiving him with fear and trembling.^{(I) 16} I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.^(J)

The Collection for the Lord’s People

8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian^(K) churches. ² In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.^{(L) 3} For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,^(M) and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴ they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing^(N) in this service^(O) to the Lord’s people.^{(P) 5} And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.