19 (A)Again, [a]do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? (B)We speak before God in Christ. (C)But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that (D)I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again, my God (E)will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many (F)who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, (G)fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:19 NU You have been thinking for a long time that we

19 Have you been thinking all this time that we are defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and all these things, dear friends, are for your edification. 20 For I am afraid lest somehow when I[a] arrive, I will not find you as I want, and I may be found by you as you do not want. I am afraid[b] lest somehow there will be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, pride, disorder. 21 I am afraid lest when I[c] come again my God will humiliate me in your presence[d], and I will grieve over many of those who sinned previously and have not repented because of their impurity and sexual immorality and licentiousness that they have practiced.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:20 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“arrive”) which is understood as temporal
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:20 The words “I am afraid” are not in the Greek text, but are an understood repetition from the previous clause
  3. 2 Corinthians 12:21 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“come”) which is understood as temporal
  4. 2 Corinthians 12:21 Literally “with you”