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23 For I call God to witness against my soul [Forsooth I in-call God witness into my soul], that I sparing you came not over to Corinth;

24 not that we be lords of your faith [not for we be lords of your faith], but we be helpers of your joy; for through belief ye stand.

And I ordained this [same] thing at me, that I should not come again in heaviness to you [in sorrow to you].

For if I make you sorry, who is he that gladdeth me, but he that is sorrowful of me?

And this same thing I wrote to you, that when I come, I have not sorrow on sorrow, of the which it behooved me to have joy. And I trust in you all, that my joy is of all you[a].

For of much tribulation and anguish of heart I wrote to you by many tears, not that ye be sorry, but that ye know what charity I have more plenteously in you.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 2:3 that when I shall come, I have not sorrow upon sorrow, of them of whom it behooved me to have joy. Trusting in you all, that my joy is of you all

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.