2 Please do accept us because we didn’t wrong anyone, and we didn’t corrupt or exploit anyone. 3 I’m not pronouncing condemnation because I’ve said previously that you all are in our hearts so together we’ll die and together we’ll live again. 4 I feel very bold towards you all and boast a lot about you. I’m filled with encouragement and even in our troubles I’m overflowing with happiness .

5 [ref]Actually, since we arrived in Macedonia we’ve had no physical rest but we’ve been oppressed in every way—on the outside there’s quarrels and on the inside we’ve had our fears, 6 but the God who comforts those who’re humble, comforted us with the arrival of Titos. 7 It wasn’t just his coming, but also because he’d been comforted by all of you. He told us about your longing for me, and your mourning for my troubles and your zeal for me, and it really cheered me up.

8 Yes, because even if I made you sad with my letter, I don’t regret sending it. (Well, for a while I was sad for you that I had sent the letter.) 9 Anyway, now I’m happy, not that it made you sad, but because that sadness led to turning away from your sin because that sorrow was according to God’s values so you didn’t lose anything because of us. 10 Because sorrow according to God’s values brings repentance that leads to salvation without regrets, but the world’s sorrow leads to death. 11 See how this sorrow according to God’s values has produced earnestness in you all, but also eagerness to clear yourselves, resentment, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance. You have proved yourselves innocent in the matter in every area.

12 So if I also wrote to you all, not on account of the one having done wrong, nor on account of the one having been wronged, but on account of your earnestness that would be revealed to us all before God, 13 then we’ve been comforted because of this.

And talking about our comfort, we were quite thrilled at Titos’ happiness because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.

14 Yes, if I’ve boasted anything about you all to him, I wasn’t disgraced, but as we spoke the truth to you all about everything, so also did our boasting to Titos become true 15 and his affection towards you all increased when he’s reminded about your obedience and how you accepted him with fear and trembling. 16 I’m thrilled that I can have confidence in you all about everything.