16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.(A) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!

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16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

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You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed(A)—God is our witness.(B)

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For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

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For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,(A) nor are we trying to trick you.(B)

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For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

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13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?(A) Forgive me this wrong!(B)

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13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

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And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed.(A) I have kept myself from being a burden to you(B) in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me,(C) nobody in the regions of Achaia(D) will stop this boasting(E) of mine.

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And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

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I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold(A) as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.(B) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.(C)

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But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

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Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

Make room for us in your hearts.(A) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.

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Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

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Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;(A) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.(B) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience(C) in the sight of God.

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But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

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Paul’s Change of Plans

12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience(A) testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity[a](B) and godly sincerity.(C) We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom(D) but on God’s grace.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:12 Many manuscripts holiness

12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

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now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.(A)

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If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

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