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 confidence about all of you, that my joy belongs to all of you. 4 No: I wrote to you in floods of tears, out of great trouble and anguish in my heart, not so that I could make you sad but so that you would know just how much overflowing love I have towards you.

Time to Forgive

5 But if anyone has caused sadness, it isn’t me that he has saddened, but, in a measure (I don’t want to emphasize this too much), all of you. 6 The punishment that the majority has imposed is quite enough; 7 what’s needed now is rather that you should forgive and console him, in case someone like that might be swallowed up by such abundant sorrow. 8 Let me urge you, then, to reaffirm your love for him.

9 The reason I wrote to you, you see, was in order to know whether you would pass the test and be obedient in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone anything, so do I; and whatever I have forgiven – if indeed I have forgiven anyone anything! – it’s all happened under the eyes of the Messiah, and for your own sake. 11 The point is that we shouldn’t be outsmarted by the satan. We know what he’s up to!

The Smell of Life, the Smell of Death

12 However, when I came to Troas to announce the Messiah’s gospel, and found an open door waiting for me in the Lord, 13 I couldn’t get any quietness in my spirit because I didn’t find my brother Titus there. So I left them and went off to Macedonia.

14 But thanks be to God – the God who always leads us in his triumphal procession in the Messiah, and through us reveals everywhere the sweet smell of knowing him. 15 We are the Messiah’s fragrance before God, you see, to those who are being saved and to those who are being lost. 16 To the latter, it’s a smell which comes from death and leads to death; but to the former it’s the smell of life which leads to life.

Who can rise to this challenge? 17 We aren’t mere pedlars of God’s word, as so many people are. We speak with sincerity; we speak from God; we speak in God’s presence; we speak in the Messiah.

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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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