2 Corinthians 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

To the Church of God which is in Corinth, and to all the saints throughout Greece. from Paul, by God’s will an apostle of Christ, and from brother Timothy.

2 Grace [be] to you and peace from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father in the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Thanks be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort,

4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

who ever comforts me in all my troubles, so that I may be continually able to comfort those who are in any trouble by the comfort with which God is ever comforting me.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

For just as I have more than my share in the sufferings of the Christ, so also through the Christ I have more than my share of comfort.

6 And whether we be afflicted, [it is] for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, [it is] for your consolation and salvation.

If I am afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if I am receiving comfort, it is for your comfort - a comfort produced within you by your patient fortitude, under the same sufferings which I also am enduring.

7 And our hope of you [is] stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so [shall ye be] also of the consolation.

My hope for you is firm; for I know that as you are comrades in my sufferings, so also are you comrades in my comfort.

8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

Now, brothers, I want you to know about the troubles which befell me in Asia; how I was burdened altogether beyond my strength, so that I renounced all hope even of life itself.

9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

Indeed, I had in myself, and still have, the sentence of death, in order that I might not rely on myself, but on God who raises the dead to life.

10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver [us];

He delivered me from such a death, and will deliver me. On him I have set my hopes that he will continue to deliver me,

11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift [bestowed] upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

while all of you also are helping me by your prayers; so that from many lips thanksgiving may rise on my behalf for the blessings vouchsafed to me through the intercessions of many.

12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

For this is my proud boast, the testimony of my conscience, that it was in holiness and with pure motives before God, not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God, that I have conducted myself in the world, and above all in my relations with you.

13 For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;

For I am writing to you nothing different from what you read aloud and very well recognize, and I hope will continue to recognize to the very end,

14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also [are] ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

as some indeed did recognize in part at last, that I am your cause of boasting, just as you will be mine on the Day of Jesus our Lord.

15 And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

And in this confidence I intended to visit you, before going elsewhere, that you might have a pleasure twice over.

16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

I intended to go by you into Macedonia, and to come again to you from Macedonia, and by you to be sent forward on my way to Judea.

17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?

In purposing this did I display "caprice"? Or what I purpose do I purpose in a worldly way, so that it may mean either "Yes, yes," or "No, no"?

18 But [as] God [is] true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

As God is faithful, my message to you is not now "Yes," now "No."

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, [even] by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

For Jesus Christ, Son of God, who was proclaimed among you by us, that is, by Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not wavering between "Yes" and "No," but in him is the everlasting "Yes."

20 For all the promises of God in him [are] yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

For however many are the promises of God, in him they are "Yes." Therefore also through him let the Amen be said by our voices to the glory of God.

21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God;

And he who has established me with you in the Anointed One, and has anointed me, is God.

22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

He has also set his seal upon me, and given me the pledge of his Spirit in my heart.

23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

But for my part I call God to witness, as my soul shall answer for it, that it was to spare you that I came not to Corinth

24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

(not that I am attempting to lord it over your faith, but rather to work with you for your happiness); for your faith is stedfast.