⁴ Or do you despise the riches of his kindness,^(A) restraint,^(B) and patience,^(C) not recognizing^[a] that God’s kindness^(D) is intended to lead you to repentance?

⁹ I now rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you were grieved as God willed, so that you didn’t experience any loss from us. ¹⁰ For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death.^(A)

²¹ I fear that when I come my God will again^[a] humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented^(A) of the moral impurity, sexual immorality,^(B) and sensuality^(C) they practiced.

²⁴ The Lord’s^(A) servant must not quarrel,^(B) but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach,^[a] and patient, ²⁵ instructing his opponents with gentleness.^(C) Perhaps God will grant them repentance^(D) leading them to the knowledge of the truth. ²⁶ Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil,^(E) who has taken them captive to do his will.^(F)