| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. | 1Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. |
| 2Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. | 2Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. |
| 3I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you. | 3I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. |
| 4Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows. | 4I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds. |
| 5For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within. | 5For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn--conflicts on the outside, fears within. |
| 6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus, | 6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, |
| 7and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more. | 7and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever. |
| 8Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Although I did regret it, I now see that my letter caused you sorrow, but only for a short time. | 8Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it--I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while-- |
| 9And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us. | 9yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. |
| 10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. | 10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. |
| 11Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. | 11See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. |
| 12So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God. | 12So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. |
| 13On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. | 13By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. |
| 14Indeed, I was not embarrassed by anything I had boasted to him about you. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved to be true as well. | 14I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. |
| 15And his affection for you is even greater when he remembers that you were all obedient as you welcomed him with fear and trembling. | 15And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. |
| 16I rejoice that I can have complete confidence in you. | 16I am glad I can have complete confidence in you. |
|
