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.

⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.^(A)

⁸ For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹ We are glad whenever we are weak^(A) but you are strong;^(B) and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.^{(C) 10} This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh^(D) in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.^(E)

²¹ I have declared to both Jews^(A) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance^(B) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.^(C)

Mourning for the One They Pierced

¹⁰ “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit^[a](A) of grace and supplication.^(B) They will look on^[b] me, the one they have pierced,^(C) and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child,^(D) and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.^(E)

⁸ So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us^(A) for building you up rather than tearing you down,^(B) I will not be ashamed of it. ⁹ I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. ¹⁰ For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive^(C) and his speaking amounts to nothing.”^(D)