2 Corinthians: Chapter 7
1. Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us
cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in
the fear of God.
2. Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We
corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one.
3. I say this not to condemn you, for I have said
before, that you are in our hearts to die together and live together.
4. Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great
is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy
in all our affliction.
5. For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were
outside. Fear was inside.
6. Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God,
comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7. and not by his coming only, but also by the
comfort with which he was comforted in you, while he told us of your longing, your
mourning, and your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced still more.
8. For though I made you sorry with my letter, I do
not regret it, though I did regret it. For I see that my letter made you
sorry, though just for a while.
9. I now rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but
that you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly
way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing.
10. For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation,
which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world works death.
11. For behold, this same thing, that you were made
sorry in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense,
indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance! In everything you demonstrated
yourselves to be pure in the matter.
12. So although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his
cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that
your earnest care for us might be revealed in you in the sight of God.
13. Therefore we have been comforted. In our comfort
we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has
been refreshed by you all.
14. For if in anything I have boasted to him on your
behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so
our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.
15. His affection is more abundantly toward you, while
he remembers all of your obedience, how with fear and trembling you received
him.
16. I rejoice that in everything I am of good courage
concerning you.