2 Corinthians 7

1 So then, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, finishing holiness in the fear of God. [a]

2 Make room for us. We wronged no one, we ruined no one, we took advantage of no one. [b] 3 I do not say this toward condemnation, for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 Much boldness is mine toward you; much boasting is mine about you. I have been filled with comfort; I overflow with joy in all our affliction. [c]

5 For indeed, when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no ease, but we were afflicted in everything — fights outside, fears inside — [d] 6 but the one who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus; [e] 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted over you, as he reported to us your longing, your lamenting, your zeal for me — so that I rejoiced all the more.

8 Because even if I grieved you by the letter, I do not regret it. Even if I did regret it — I see that that letter grieved you, even if only for an hour — [f] 9 now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into a change of mind; for you were grieved according to God, so that you might suffer loss in nothing from us. 10 For grief according to God works a change of mind leading to rescue, not to be regretted; but the grief of the world works out death. [g]

11 For look — this very thing, being grieved according to God: what diligence it worked out in you, and defense, and indignation, and fear, and longing, and zeal, and vengeance. In everything you commended yourselves to be pure in the matter. [h] 12 So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong, nor on account of the one who was wronged, but so that your diligence for us might be made plain to you before God.

13 That is why we have been comforted. And in addition to our comfort we rejoiced still more abundantly at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been given rest by all of you. 14 Because if I have boasted anything to him about you, I was not put to shame; but as we spoke everything to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus turned out to be truth. 15 And his inward parts are all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of all of you, how you received him with fear and trembling. [i] 16 I rejoice that in everything I am confident in you.