7 Having
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from
all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear
of God. 2 Receive
us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded
no man. 3 I
speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in
our hearts to die and live with you. 4 Great
is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am
filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. 5 For,
when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled
on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. 6 Nevertheless
God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming
of Titus; 7 And
not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted
in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent
mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. 8 For
though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent:
for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were
but for a season.
9
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance:
for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage
by us in nothing. 10 For
godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but
the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For
behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness
it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation,
yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge!
In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Wherefore,
though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong,
nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the
sight of God might appear unto you. 13 Therefore
we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we
for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14 For
if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake
all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus,
is found a truth. 15 And
his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth
the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16 I rejoice
therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.