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23 Now, I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you, I have not as yet come to Corinth.

24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but we are helpers of your joy. For by faith you stand.

But this I determined in myself: that I would not come again to you in sorrow.

For if I grieve you, who then should make me glad but the same one who is grieved by me?

And I wrote this same thing to you, lest when I come, I should not be grieved by those in whom I ought to rejoice, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.

For in great affliction, and anguish of heart, I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be made sorry, but that you might perceive the love which I have especially for you.

23 I call God as my witness(A)—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you(B) that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over(C) your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.(D) So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.(E) For if I grieve you,(F) who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? I wrote as I did,(G) so that when I came I would not be distressed(H) by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence(I) in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you(J) out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.