¹⁴ Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,^(A) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,^(B) but parents for their children.^{(C) 15} So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.^(D) If I love you more,^(E) will you love me less? ¹⁶ Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.^(F) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! ¹⁷ Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? ¹⁸ I urged^(G) Titus^(H) to go to you and I sent our brother^(I) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

¹⁹ Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God^(J) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,^(K) is for your strengthening.^{(L) 20} For I am afraid that when I come^(M) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be.^(N) I fear that there may be discord,^(O) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,^(P) slander,^(Q) gossip,^(R) arrogance^(S) and disorder.^{(T) 21} I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved^(U) over many who have sinned earlier^(V) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery^(W) in which they have indulged.