Paul’s Joy in the Corinthians

1Having therefore, my beloved, these promises, let us purify ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2Receive us---we have injured no man, we have corrupted no one, we have over-reached no one. 3I speak not this to condemn you: for I said before that ye are so much in our hearts that we could live and die with you. 4I use much freedom of speech to you, and I boast much of you: I am filled with comfort, and superabound in joy above all our affliction.

5For when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. 6But God, who comforteth those that are brought low, comforted us by the coming of Titus: 7and not only by his coming, but especially by the consolation wherewith he was comforted on your account, acquainting us with your earnest desire towards us, your grief, and your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced greatly. 8For though I grieved you by my letter, I do not repent, though I did repent; for I perceive that that epistle grieved you, though it was but for a little while. 9However, now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance; for ye were grieved after a godly manner, so that ye received no damage from us. 10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11For behold this very thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly manner, what diligence it wrought in you! yea, what apology, what indignation, what fear, what earnest desire, what zeal, what revenge! by all which ye have shewn yourselves to be clear in the affair. 12Wherefore if I wrote in such a manner to you, it was not merely on his account who had done the wrong, nor for his sake who had been injured; but that our care for you in the sight of God might be manifested among you. 13We were therefore comforted by your consolation; and rejoiced the more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all; 14and because if I boasted of any thing to him concerning you, I was not ashamed; but as we have spoken all things to you in truth, so likewise our boasting of you to Titus was truth. 15And his bowels are exceedingly moved towards you, when he calls to mind the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16I rejoice therefore that in every thing I have confidence in you.