Paul’s Joy in the Corinthians

1Therefore having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all the filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2Receive us: we have injured no one, we have corrupted no one, we have defrauded no one. 3I do not speak for castigation: for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to die with you and to live with you. 4My boldness to you is great, my rejoicing over you is much: I have been filled with consolation, I superabound with joy in all our tribulation.

5For we having come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but in everything being troubled; fightings without, fears within. 6But God, the one comforting the humble, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted by you, proclaiming unto us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced the more. 8But if I grieved you in the letter, I do not regret it, if indeed I did regret it; for I see that, if that letter indeed grieved you for an hour, 9now I rejoice, not because you grieved, but because you grieved unto repentance: for you grieved toward God, in order that you may receive damage by us in nothing. 10For a godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world works out death. 11For behold, how great enthusiasm, yes, how great apology, yes, how great clearing up, yes, how great fear, yes, how great longing, yes, how great zeal, yes, how great avenging, this same godly sorrow did work in you! In everything you have established yourselves to be pure in the matter. 12Since then indeed I wrote to you, not on account of the one having done the wrong, nor on account of the one having suffered the wrong, but in order that your zeal, which is in our behalf to you before God, might be made manifest. 13Therefore we have been comforted. But we rejoiced the more exceedingly in our consolation over the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all: 14because if I have gloried with him in anything over you, I wag not made ashamed; but as I spoke all things to you in truth, so our rejoicing over Titus was true. 15And the affections of him, remembering the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling, are the more abundantly towards you. 16I rejoice because in everything I have confidence in you.