²³ I call on God as a witness,^(A) on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth.^{(B) 24} I do not mean that we have control of^[a] your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand^(C) by faith. 2 ¹ In fact, I made up my mind about this:^[b] I would not come to you on another painful visit.^{[c] 2} For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?^{[d] 3} I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident^(D) about all of you that my joy will also be yours. ⁴ For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not that you should be hurt, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.