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¹ HAVING therefore these promises, my beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and let us serve in holiness in the fear of God.² Be patient; my brethren, we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.³ I do not say this to condemn you: for I have said before, that you are in our hearts, to die and live with you.⁴ I am familiar enough to speak boldly with you, and I am very proud of you: and I am filled with satisfaction, and I am overwhelmed with joy in all our troubles.

⁵ For ever since we came to Mac-e-do''ni-a, our bodies have had no rest but have been troubled by everything; war without and fears within.⁶ Nevertheless God, who comforts the meek, comforted us by the coming of Titus;⁷ And not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, for he brought us the good news concerning your love towards us, your mourning and your zeal on our behalf; and when I heard it, I rejoiced exceedingly.⁸ For even though I made you feel sorry with the epistle, I do not regret, even though it has caused sorrow: for I can see that though that very epistle has made you feel sorry, the sorrow was only for an hour.⁹ But it has made me exceedingly happy, not that you were sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance: for you were sorry over the things of God, so that you lack nothing from us.¹⁰ For sorrow over the things of God causes enduring repentance of the soul, and brings one to life: but sorrow over the things of the world causes death.¹¹ For behold that very thing which distressed you on account of God, has resulted much more in painstaking effort, in apology, anger, fear, love, zeal, and vengeance. In all things you have proven yourselves clear in this matter.

¹² Be that as it may, though I wrote to you, I did not do it for the one who had done the wrong nor for the one who had suffered the wrong, but that your painstaking care for us might be known before God.¹³ Therefore we were comforted and with our consolation we rejoiced exceedingly in the joy of Titus, for his spirit was refreshed by you all.¹⁴ For I was not shamed in the things which I have boasted to him about you; but just as all the things about which we have spoken to you are true, even so our boasting to Titus is found to be true.¹⁵ And his affections have increased more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him in fear and trembling.¹⁶ I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.