2 Corinthians 2

Paul explains that his earlier letter was written out of much affliction and tears, not to grieve them but so they would know his abundant love. He urges them to forgive and comfort the repentant offender, lest Satan gain an advantage, and describes the triumphal spread of the gospel as a sweet fragrance of Christ.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.	So I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to You.
2	For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?	For if I cause You grief, who is left to make me glad but the very one whom I have grieved?
3	And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.	And this is the very reason I wrote what I did — so that when I came I would not be saddened by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in You all, that my joy would be the joy of You all.
4	For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.	For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to You with many tears — not to grieve You, but to let You know the overflowing love I have for You.
5	But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.	But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me alone but in some measure all of You — I do not want to put the matter too heavily.
6	Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.	The punishment imposed on Him by the majority is enough for such a man.
7	So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.	So now You should rather forgive Him and comfort Him, or He may be overwhelmed by too much sorrow.
8	Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.	So I appeal to You to reaffirm Your love for Him.
9	For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.	This is the very reason I wrote — to put You to the test and see whether You would be obedient in everything.
10	To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;	Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven — if I have forgiven anything — I have forgiven for Your sakes in the presence of Christ,
11	Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.	so that Satan would not gain the advantage over us — for we are not ignorant of his devices.
12	Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,	When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, the Lord had opened a door for me there.
13	I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.	But I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took my leave of them and went on into Macedonia.
14	Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.	But thanks be to God, Who always leads us in triumph in Christ and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere.
15	For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:	For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
16	To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?	To the one we are an aroma of death leading to death, and to the other an aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for such things?
17	For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.	For we are not like so many, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.