For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?[a] I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident(A) about all of you that my joy will also be yours. For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not to cause you pain, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:2 Lit the one pained

For if I grieve you,(A) who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? I wrote as I did,(B) so that when I came I would not be distressed(C) by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence(D) in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you(E) out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

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