| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. | 1So I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. |
| 2For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? | 2For if I grieve you, who is left to cheer me but those whom I have grieved? |
| 3And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. | 3I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be saddened by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share my joy. |
| 4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you. | 4For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you. |
| 5But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. | 5Now if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me but all of you—to some degree, not to overstate it. |
| 6This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, | 6The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him. |
| 7so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. | 7So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. |
| 8Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. | 8Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. |
| 9For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. | 9My purpose in writing you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. |
| 10Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, | 10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake, |
| 11lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. | 11in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. |
| 12Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, | 12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord, |
| 13I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia. | 13I had no peace in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia. |
| 14Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. | 14But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. |
| 15For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. | 15For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. |
| 16To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? | 16To the one, we are an odor of death and demise; to the other, a fragrance that brings life. And who is qualified for such a task? |
| 17For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. | 17For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God. |
|
