 1 Therefore, having these promises, 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 one. We have corrupted no one. We have defrauded no one. 3 I do not speak this to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to live and die with you. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great is my rejoicing+ in you. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. 5 For when we had come to Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Fighting on the outside+, fearful on the inside+. 6 Nevertheless God who comforts those who are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus. 7 Not only by his coming, but by the consolation with which he was comforted by you. When he told us about your earnest desire, your mourning, and your fervent mind toward me, I rejoiced all the more. 8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent at first. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, although that was only for a season. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed unto repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner so that you might receive no damage from us in anything. 10 For godly sorrow produces+ repentance unto salvation and that is not to be regretted+. But the sorrow of the world produces+ death. 11 For behold this: That you sorrowed according+ to God and what diligence+ it produced+ in you, what answers+, what indignation, what fear, what intense+ desire, what zeal, what vindication+. In everything+ you have proved+ yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, it was not for the one who did wrong nor for the one who suffered wrong, but so that our care for you in the sight of God might be evident+ to you. 13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort. Yes, and we rejoiced+ exceedingly more over the joy of Titus because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14 For if I have boasted~ to him about you in anything, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke everything+ to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I did before Titus, is found to be truth. 15 His inward affection is more abundant toward you as he remembers the obedience of you all and how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 Therefore I rejoice that I can have confidence in you in everything+.
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