1Therefore, because we have these promises, beloved, let us purify ourselves from all impurity of the flesh and spirit and let us cultivate holiness in the awe of God.

2Bear with us brethren. We have not done evil to anyone; we have not corrupted anyone; we have not cheated anyone. 3It was not to condemn you that I spoke previously, for I said that you are in our heart to die and to live as one. 4I have great frankness toward you and much pride in you and I am filled with comfort and I have a great abundance of joy in all my afflictions.

5For from the time that we came to Macedonia, we had no relief for our body, but we were tormented in all things: combat from without and fear from within. 6But God, he who comforts the lowly, comforted us with the coming of Titus, 7And not only with his coming but also with that relief with which he was relieved by you, for he proclaimed to us concerning your love for us and concerning your grief and your zeal for our sakes, and when I heard, I had great joy. 8For although I grieved you by an epistle, I have no regret, even though I was sorry, for I saw that the same epistle, though it grieved you for an hour, 9On the other hand gave me great joy, not because you grieved for yourselves but because your grief brought you conversion, for you grieved for yourselves by that which is from God, so that you would not be harmed by us in anything. 10For grief that is for God's sake produces a remorse of the soul which does not reverse itself and restores to life, but the grief of the world produces death. 11For behold, this has happened because you were distressed for God's sake. How much more have I effected diligence in you, and apology, anger, fear, love, zeal and vengeance? And you revealed yourselves in all things that you are pure in this matter. 12But this that I wrote to you will be, not because of the wrong, neither because of him who did wrong, but so that your diligence toward us might be made known in the presence of God. 13Because of this we are comforted, and with our comfort we rejoice all the more in the joy of Titus, whose spirit was refreshed with all of you. 14I am not ashamed in whatever I have boasted to him concerning your persons, but as we have spoken the truth in everything with you, so also our boasting to Titus was found to be in truth. 15Also his affections are increased all the more for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, that you received him with awe and trembling. 16I rejoice that in everything I trust in you.