2 Corinthians 2

1 That's why I decided that I would avoid another sad visit with you.

For my own sake, as well, I decided not to pay you another painful visit.

2 For if I make you sad, who will be there to make me happy? It won't be those I've made sad!

If it is I who cause you pain, why, who is there to cheer me, except the person whom I am paining?

3 That's why I wrote what I did, so that I wouldn't be sad over those who should make me happy. I was so sure that all of you would share in my happiness.

So I wrote as I did because I was afraid that if I had come, I should have been pained by those who ought to have made me glad; for I felt sure that it was true of you all that my joy was in every case yours also.

4 I was crying many tears when I wrote to you, in great anguish and with a heavy heart—not to make you sad, but so you would know how much love I have for you.

I wrote to you in sore trouble and distress of heart and with many tears, not to give you pain, but to let you see how intense a love I have for you.

5 Not to put it too strongly, but the person caused more pain to all of you than to me.

Now whoever has caused the pain has not so much pained me, as he has, to some extent – not to be too severe – pained every one of you.

6 This person suffered enough punishment from the majority of you,

The man to whom I refer has been sufficiently punished by the penalty inflicted by the majority of you;

7 so now you should forgive him and be kind to him. Otherwise he may sink into despair.

so that now you must take the opposite course, and forgive and encourage him, or else he may be overwhelmed by the intensity of his pain.

8 So I urge you to publicly affirm your love towards him.

So I entreat you to assure him of your love.

9 That's why I wrote: so I could discoverer your true character and whether you're doing everything you were told to do.

I had this further object, also, in what I wrote – to find out whether you might be relied on to be obedient in everything.

10 Anyone you forgive, I forgive too. What I have forgiven, whatever it may be, I have forgiven before Christ for your benefit.

Anyone you forgive, I forgive them, too. Indeed, for my part, whatever I have forgiven (if I have had to forgive anything), I have forgiven for your sakes, in the presence of Christ,

11 In this way Satan will not be able to take us in, because we know the tricks he thinks up.

so as to prevent Satan from taking advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

12 Now when I arrived in Troas to spread the good news of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me.

When I went to the district around Troas to tell the good news of the Christ, even though there was an opening for serving the Master,

13 But my mind wasn't at peace because I couldn't find my brother Titus. So I said goodbye and went over to Macedonia.

I could get no peace of mind because I failed to find Titus, my friend; so I took leave of the people there, and went on to Macedonia.

14 But praise be to God, who always leads us in a triumphal procession in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet scent of his knowledge wherever we go!

All thanks to God, who, through our union with the Christ, leads us in one continual triumph, and uses us to spread the sweet perfume of the knowledge of him in every place.

15 We are like a fragrance of Christ to God, rising up from among those who are being saved as well as those who are dying.

For we are the fragrance of Christ ascending to God – both among those who are in the path of salvation and among those who are in the path to ruin.

16 To those who are dying it is the smell of decay, while to those who are being saved it is the scent of life! But who is up to such an assignment?

To the latter we are a stench which arises from death and tells of death; to the former a fragrance which arises from life and tells of life. But who is equal to such a task?

17 We are not like the majority who trade in the word of God for profit. Quite the opposite: we are sincere in sharing the word of God in Christ, knowing God is watching us.

Unlike many people, we are not in the habit of making profit out of God’s message; but in all sincerity, and bearing God’s commission, we speak before him in union with Christ.