2 Corinthians, 7

1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

1. Since we have such promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from all defilement of body and spirit, and complete the work of sanctification in the fear of God.

2. Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

2. Welcome us in your hearts. We have injured no one, we have harmed no one, we have cheated no one.

3. I speak not [this] to condemn [you]: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with [you].

3. I do not say this to condemn you: I have just said that you are in our heart to live together and die as one.

4. Great [is] my boldness of speech toward you, great [is] my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

4. I have great confidence in you and I am indeed proud of you. I feel very much encouraged and my joy overflows in spite of all this bitterness.

5. For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without [were] fightings, within [were] fears.

5. Know that when I came to Macedonia, I had no rest at all but I was afflicted with all kinds of difficulties: conflict outside and fear within.

6. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

6. But God who encourages the humble gave me comfort with the arrival of Titus,

7. And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

7. not only because of his arrival, but also because you had received him very well. He told me about your deep affection for me; you were affected by what happened, you worried about me, and this made me rejoice all the more.

8. For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though [it were] but for a season.

8. If my letter caused you pain, I do not regret it. Perhaps I did regret it, for I saw that the letter caused you sadness for a moment but now I rejoice,

9. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

9. not because of your sadness, but because this sadness brought you to repentance. This was a sadness from God, so that no evil came to you because of me.

10. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

10. Sadness from God brings firm repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.

11. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, [what] clearing of yourselves, yea, [what] indignation, yea, [what] fear, yea, [what] vehement desire, yea, [what] zeal, yea, [what] revenge! In all [things] ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

11. See what this sadness from God has produced in you: What concern for me! What apologies! What indignation and fear! What a longing to see me, to make amends and do me justice! You have fully proved that you were innocent in this matter.

12. Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, [I did it] not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

12. In reality, I wrote to you not on account of the offender or of the offended, but that you may be conscious of the concern you have for me before God.

13. Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

13. I was encouraged by this. In addition to this consolation of mine, I rejoice especially to see Titus very pleased with the way you all reassured him.

14. For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which [I made] before Titus, is found a truth.

14. I had no cause to regret my praise of you to him. You know that I am always sincere with you; likewise my praise of you to Titus has been justified.

15. And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

15. He now feels much more affection for you as he remembers the obedience of all and the respect and humility with which you received him.

16. I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all [things].

16. Really I rejoice for I can be truly proud of you.