1. And I decided this within myself, not to come to you again in sadness.
2. For if I make you sad, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sad by me?
3. And I wrote to you as I did, so that having come, I might not have sadness over those from whom I should have joy, trusting in you all that my joy is that of you all.
4. For out of much pressure and distress of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be sad, but that you might know the love which I so richly have for you.
5. But if anyone has caused sadness, he has not made me sad, but in some degree you all – not to be too harsh.
6. For such a one this punishment, by the many, is sufficient,
7. so that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive and comfort, lest somehow such a one be swallowed up with too much sadness.
8. So I appeal to you to confirm your love to him.
9. Besides, I wrote for this purpose also, that I might know the proof of you, if you are obedient in all matters.
10. And whom you forgive any matter, I do also. For indeed, if I have forgiven any matter, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the sight of Messiah,
11. lest Satan should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his thoughts.
12. And when I came to Troas for the Good News of Messiah, and a door was opened to me by the Master,
13. I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother. But taking my leave of them, I went on to Makedonia.
14. But thanks be to Elohim who always leads us on, to overcome in Messiah, and manifests through us the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
15. Because we are to Elohim the fragrance of Messiah among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
16. To the one we are the smell of death to death, and to the other the fragrance of life to life. And who is competent for these?
17. For we are not, as so many, adulterating the Word of Elohim for gain – but as of sincerity, but as from Elohim, in the sight of Elohim, we speak in Messiah.