71 Therefore , having these promises , beloved , let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit , perfecting holiness in the fear of God .
2 Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one , we corrupted no one , we took advantage of no one . 3 I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together . 4 Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf . I am filled with comfort ; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction .
5 For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest , but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without , fears within . 6 But God , who comforts the depressed , comforted us by the coming of Titus ; 7 and not only by his coming , but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing , your mourning , your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more . 8 For though e I caused you sorrow by my letter , I do not regret it; though e I did regret it-for I see that that letter caused you sorrow , though e only for a while - 9 I now rejoice , not that you were made sorrowful , but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance ; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God , so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret , leading to salvation , but the sorrow of the world produces death . 11 For behold what earnestness this very thing , this godly e sorrow , has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation , what fear , what longing , what zeal , what avenging of wrong ! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter .
12 So although e I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended , but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God . 13 For this reason we have been comforted . And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all . 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame ; but as we spoke all things to you in truth , so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth . 15 His affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all , how you received him with fear and trembling . 16 I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you.
