1 Now a2:1 Other mss. read For I decided not to pay you another painful visit. ISV — 2Corinthians 2:1
2 After all, if I were to grieve you, who should make me happy but the person I am making sad? ISV — 2Corinthians 2:2
3 This is the very reason I wrote you, so that when I did come I might not be made sad by those who should have made me happy. For I had confidence that all of you would share the joy that I have. ISV — 2Corinthians 2:3
4 I wrote to you out of great sorrow and anguish of heart—along with many tears—not to make you sad but to let you know how much love I have for you. ISV — 2Corinthians 2:4
5 But if anyone has caused grief, he didn’t cause me any grief. To some extent—I don’t want to emphasize this too much—it has affected b2:5 The Gk. lacks much—it has affected all of you. ISV — 2Corinthians 2:5
6 This punishment by the majority is severe enough for such a man. ISV — 2Corinthians 2:6
7 So forgive and comfort him, or else he will drown in his excessive grief. ISV — 2Corinthians 2:7
8 That’s why I’m urging you to assure him of your love. ISV — 2Corinthians 2:8
9 I had also written to you to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in every way. ISV — 2Corinthians 2:9
10 When you forgive someone, I do, too. Indeed, what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I did c2:10 The Gk. lacks I did in the presence of the Messiah d2:10 Or Christ for your benefit, ISV — 2Corinthians 2:10
11 so that we may not be outsmarted by Satan. After all, we are not unaware of his intentions. ISV — 2Corinthians 2:11
12 When I went to Troas on behalf of the gospel of the Messiah, e2:12 Or Christ the Lord opened a door for me, ISV — 2Corinthians 2:12
13 but my spirit could not find any relief, because I couldn’t find Titus, my brother. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia. ISV — 2Corinthians 2:13
14 But thanks be to God! He always leads us triumphantly by the Messiah f2:14 Or Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of knowing him. ISV — 2Corinthians 2:14
15 To God we are the aroma of the Messiah g2:15 Or Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are being lost. ISV — 2Corinthians 2:15
16 To some people we are a deadly fragrance, h2:16 Lit. a fragrance of death to death while to others we are a living fragrance. i2:16 Lit. a fragrance of life to life Who is qualified for this? ISV — 2Corinthians 2:16
17 At least we are not commercializing God’s word like so many others. Instead, we speak with sincerity in the Messiah’s j2:17 Or Christ’s name, k2:17 The Gk. lacks name like people who are sent from God and are accountable to God. l2:17 Lit. as from God and before God ISV — 2Corinthians 2:17