2 Corinthians 2 - New Century Version (NCV)

2 So I decided that my next visit to you would not be another one to make you sad. 2 If I make you sad, who will make me glad? Only you can make me glad—particularly the person whom I made sad. 3 I wrote you a letter for this reason: that when I came to you I would not be made sad by the people who should make me happy. I felt sure of all of you, that you would share my joy. 4 When I wrote to you before, I was very troubled and unhappy in my heart, and I wrote with many tears. I did not write to make you sad, but to let you know how much I love you.

Forgive the Sinner

5 Someone there among you has caused sadness, not to me, but to all of you. I mean he caused sadness to all in some way. (I do not want to make it sound worse than it really is.) 6 The punishment that most of you gave him is enough for him. 7 But now you should forgive him and comfort him to keep him from having too much sadness and giving up completely. 8 So I beg you to show that you love him. 9 I wrote you to test you and to see if you obey in everything. 10 If you forgive someone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if I had anything to forgive—I forgave it for you, as if Christ were with me. 11 I did this so that Satan would not win anything from us, because we know very well what Satan’s plans are.

Paul’s Concern in Troas

12 When I came to Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord gave me a good opportunity there. 13 But I had no peace, because I did not find my brother Titus. So I said good-bye to them at Troas and went to Macedonia.

Victory Through Christ

14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s victory parade. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume. 15 Our offering to God is this: We are the sweet smell of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are being lost. 16 To those who are lost, we are the smell of death that brings death, but to those who are being saved, we are the smell of life that brings life. So who is able to do this work? 17 We do not sell the word of God for a profit as many other people do. But in Christ we speak the truth before God, as messengers of God.

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2 Corinthians 2 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

2 And I decided this to myself, not again to come in sorrow unto you, 2 for if I make you sorry, then who is he who is making me glad, except he who is made sorry by me? 3 and I wrote to you this same thing, that having come, I may not have sorrow from them of whom it behoved me to have joy, having ...
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2 Corinthians 2 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

2 And I ordained this [same] thing at me, that I should not come again in heaviness to you [in sorrow to you]. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he that gladdeth me, but he that is sorrowful of me? 3 And this same thing I wrote to you, that when I come, I have not sorrow on sorrow, of the which it...
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2 Corinthians 2 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

2 I made up my mind that I would not go to visit you again if I had to make you sad. 2 For if I make you sad, who is going to make me glad? No one, but the one I made sad. 3 That is why I wrote the letter. I did not want to come and be made sad by those who should make me glad. I am sure that what m...
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2 Corinthians 2 - World English Bible (WEB)

2 But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow. 2 For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me? 3 And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; havi...
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2 Corinthians 2 - The Voice (VOICE)

The believers in Corinth are exhausting Paul and one another with their negativity and criticism. Nothing destroys the beauty of Christian community more aggressively than these kinds of patterns.2 I finally determined that I would not come to you again for yet another agonizing visit. 2 If my visi...
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2 Corinthians 2 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Forgive the Repentant Sinner2 So I made up my mind that I would not come to you again causing sorrow. 2 For if I cause you sorrow, then who is there cheering me on but the one I have made sorrowful? 3 And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came I wouldn’t have sorrow from those who oug...
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2 Corinthians 2 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

2 1 For I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, t...
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2 Corinthians 2 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

2 But this I determined in myself: that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 2 For if I grieve you, who then should make me glad but the same one who is grieved by me? 3 And I wrote this same thing to you, lest when I come, I should not be grieved by those in whom I ought to rejoice, having conf...
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2 Corinthians 2 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

2 You see, I settled it in my mind that I wouldn’t make you another sad visit. 2 After all, if I make you sad, who is there to cheer me up except the one who is sad because of me? 3 And I wrote what I did so that I wouldn’t come and find sadness where I should have found joy. I have this confidenc...
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2 Corinthians 2 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

2 1 So I made up my mind not to make another visit that causes you grief.(A)2 For if I cause you grief, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have grieved? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer grief from those who should have made me rejoice, for I am confident a...
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2 Corinthians 2 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

2 1 For by faith you stand. But I determined in myself that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorrowful, who is it that should make me glad, but the same who are made sorrowful by me? 3 And I wrote this same epistle to you lest, if I went, I should be made sad by tho...
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2 Corinthians 2 - New Living Translation (NLT)

2 So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit. 2 For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved. 3 That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest jo...
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2 Corinthians 2 - New Life Version (NLV)

2 As I thought about it, I decided I would not come to you again. It would only make you sad. 2 If I make you sad, who is going to make me happy? How can you make me happy if I make you sad? 3 That is why I wrote that letter to you. I did not want to visit you and be made sad by the ones who shoul...
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2 Corinthians 2 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Paul Urges Forgiveness2 But I determined this within myself, (A)that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 2 For if I make you (B)sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? Forgive the Offender3 And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, (C)I...
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