2Corinthians 2

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