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23 But I call God for a witness to my soul, that I didn’t come to Corinth to spare you. 24 We don’t control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.

But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow. For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me? And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made to grieve, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.

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 lord it over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand firm in your(C) faith.

In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit.[a] For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?[b] 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. For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not to cause you pain, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.

Footnotes

  1. 2:1 Lit not again in sorrow to come to you
  2. 2:2 Lit the one pained