| New International Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. | 1In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit. |
| 2For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? | 2For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me? |
| 3I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. | 3I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn't have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident about all of you that my joy will also be yours. |
| 4For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. | 4For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart--not to cause you pain, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you. |
| 5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent--not to put it too severely. | 5If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree--not to exaggerate--to all of you. |
| 6The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. | 6This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. |
| 7Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. | 7As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. |
| 8I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. | 8Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. |
| 9Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. | 9I wrote for this purpose: to test your character to see if you are obedient in everything. |
| 10Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven--if there was anything to forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, | 10Anyone you forgive, I do too. For what I have forgiven--if I have forgiven anything--it is for your benefit in the presence of Christ, |
| 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. | 11so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes. |
| 12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, | 12When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a door for me, |
| 13I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia. | 13I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus. Instead, I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia. |
| 14But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. | 14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ's triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. |
| 15For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. | 15For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. |
| 16To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? | 16To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? |
| 17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. | 17For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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