1 ¶ Since we have these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and soul, following holiness to its goal in the fear of God.

2 Open your hearts to us; we have not wronged anyone, we have not corrupted anyone, we have not defrauded anyone.

3 I am not saying this to condemn you: for I have said before, that we care deeply about you, that we have died together and live together in Christ.

4 I speak with great confidence in you, I rejoice greatly because of you: I am very much encouraged, in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

5 ¶ For, when we got to Macedonia, we had no rest physically, but were troubled on every side; there were conflicts without, and fears within.

6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the lowly, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

7 And not only by his coming, but also by the comfort you had given him, when he told us about your earnest affection, your deep sorrow over sin, your ardent concern for me; I rejoiced even more.

8 For even though my letter brought you sorrow, I do not regret it, though I did regret it at first: for I realize that my letter only caused you sorrow for a little while.

9 Now I am glad, not because you were grieved, but because your grief brought repentance: for you were grieved by sin as God intended, and so were not harmed by us in any way.

10 For godly sorrow results in repentance leading to salvation, not regret: but the sorrow of this world brings death.

11 See how eager that very thing, sorrow according to God’s plan, made you, yea, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what earnestness, what zeal, what willingness to see justice done! In everything you have proved yourselves to be blameless in this matter.

12 ¶ Therefore, even though I wrote to you, It was not just because of the one who did wrong, or the one who suffered wrong, but that the care we have for you in the sight of God might be revealed to you.

13 Thus we have been comforted together with you: and in addition, were delighted to see how happy Titus was, because all of you helped put his mind at ease.

14 For if I boasted to him about you, you did not disappoint me; but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus, also proved to be true.

15 And his affection for you is all the greater, when he recalls how eager you all were to do what he asked, how you welcomed him with fear and trembling.