Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the  ¹will of God, and Timothy the brother, to the  ²church of God which is  ³in Corinth,  ⁴with all the saints who are in the whole of  ⁵Achaia:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of  ¹compassions and God of all  ²comfort;

Who comforts us in all our affliction that we may be  ¹able to comfort those who are in every affliction through the comforting with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

For even as the  ¹sufferings of the Christ abound unto us, so through  ²the Christ our comfort also abounds.

But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comforting and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comforting, which operates in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer.

And our hope for you is firm, knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you are of the comfort.

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were excessively  ¹burdened, beyond our power, so that we  ²despaired even of  ³living.

 ¹Indeed we ourselves had the  ²response of death in ourselves, that we should not base our confidence on ourselves but on  ³God, who raises the dead;

Who has delivered us out of so great a death, and  ¹will deliver us; in whom we have hoped that He will also yet deliver us,

If you also  ¹help in this by petition on our behalf, that for the  ²gift to us through many, thanks may be given by many  ³persons on our behalf.

For our boasting is this, the testimony of our  ¹conscience, that in  ²singleness and  ³sincerity of God, not in  ⁴fleshly wisdom but in the  ⁵grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

For no other things do we write to you than what you read or even know; and I hope that you will know unto the end,

Even as also you know us in part, that we are your boast, just as you also are ours in the  ¹day of our Lord Jesus.

And in this confidence I intended to come to you previously that you might have  ¹double grace,

And through you to pass through into  ¹Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you and be sent forward by you into Judea.

This therefore intending, did I then use fickleness? Or the things which I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there should be Yes, yes and No, no?

 ¹But as God is faithful, our  ²word toward you is not yes and no.

 ¹For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you through us, through me and  ²Silvanus and Timothy, did not become yes and no, but our word has become yes in Him.

 ¹For as many promises of God as there are, in  ²Him is the  ³Yes; therefore also through  ²Him is  ⁴the Amen to God,  ⁵for glory through  ⁶us to God.

 ¹But the One who  ²firmly attaches  ³us  ⁴with you unto  ⁵Christ and has  ⁶anointed us is God,

He who has also  ¹sealed us and given the Spirit in our  ²hearts as a  ³pledge.

But I call on God as a witness  ¹against my soul that to  ²spare you I have not yet come to Corinth.

Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers with you for your joy; for by  ¹faith you stand.

But I  ¹determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow.

For if I cause you sorrow, who then is the one who makes me glad, except the one who is made sorrowful by me?

And I  ¹wrote this very thing to you that when I come I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not that you would be made sorrowful but that you would know the love which I have more abundantly toward you.

But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has not caused me to sorrow, but in part (lest I  ¹lay too heavy a burden) all of you.

Sufficient for such a one is this punishment by the majority,

So that on the contrary you should rather  ¹forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with excessive sorrow.

Therefore I exhort you to  ¹confirm your love toward him.

For to this end also I wrote, that I might  ¹know your  ²approvedness, whether you are obedient in all things.

But whom you  ¹forgive anything, I also forgive; for also what I have  ²forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is for your sake in the  ³person of Christ;

That we may not be taken advantage of by  ¹Satan, for we are not ignorant of his  ²schemes.

The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
But righteousness delivers from death.

Jehovah will not allow the soul of the righteous man to go hungry,
But He thrusts away the desire of the wicked.

A slack hand causes poverty,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,
But he who sleeps at harvest time is a son who brings shame.

Blessings are upon the head of the righteous man,
 ¹But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

The memory of the righteous man is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.

The wise in heart will receive commandments,
But the foolish in speech will be cast down.

He who walks in integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will be known.

He who winks with the eye causes grief,
And the foolish in speech will be cast down.

The mouth of the righteous man is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all transgressions.

In the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found,
But a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.

Wise men treasure up knowledge,
But the mouth of a fool is imminent destruction.

The rich man's substance is his strong city;
The ruin of the poor is their poverty.

The wages of the righteous man lead to life;
The income of the wicked man, to sin.

He who heeds instruction is on the path of life,
But he who forsakes reproof goes astray.

He who conceals hatred has lying lips,
And he who utters slander is a fool.

When there are many words transgression does not cease,
But he who restrains his lips is prudent.

The tongue of the righteous man is like choice silver;
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

The lips of the righteous man feed many,
But fools die for lack of sense.

It is the blessing of Jehovah that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.

Carrying out a wicked scheme is like sport to a fool,
But so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

The fear of the wicked man will come upon him,
And the desire of the righteous will be granted.

When the whirlwind passes, the wicked man is no more;
But the righteous man is an everlasting foundation.

Like vinegar to the teeth and like smoke to the eyes,
So is the sluggard to those who send him.

The fear of Jehovah prolongs days,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.

The hope of the righteous is joy,
But the expectation of the wicked will perish.

The way of Jehovah is a stronghold to the upright,
But it is ruin to the workers of iniquity.

The righteous man will never be moved,
But the wicked will not dwell in the land.

The mouth of the righteous man brings forth wisdom,
But the perverse tongue will be cut off.

The lips of the righteous man know what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked is perverse.

A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah,
But a full weight is His delight.

When pride comes, then comes dishonor;
But wisdom is with the humble.

The integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the perverseness of the treacherous will destroy them.

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But righteousness delivers from death.

The righteousness of the perfect man will make his way straight,
But the wicked man will fall by his own wickedness.

The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the treacherous will be taken in their own craving.

When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish;
And the hope of the strong perishes.

The righteous man is delivered out of trouble,
And the wicked man comes into it instead of him.

With his mouth the profane man destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

When it goes well with the righteous, the city exults;
And when the wicked perish, there is a ringing shout.

By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
But it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.

He who despises his neighbor lacks sense,
But a man of understanding keeps silent.

He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

Where no sound counsel is, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

He who is surety for a stranger will surely be troubled,
But he who hates giving pledges is secure.

A gracious woman lays hold of honor,
And violent men lay hold of riches.

The merciful man rewards his own soul,
But the cruel troubles his own flesh.

The wicked man earns deceitful wages,
But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.

He who is steadfast in righteousness shall attain to life,
And he who pursues evil advances to his own death.

Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah,
But those who are perfect in their way are His delight.

 ¹Be assured: The evil man will not go unpunished;
But the seed of the righteous will be delivered.

Like a nose-ring of gold in a pig's snout,
So is a beautiful woman who is without discretion.

The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

There is one who scatters and increases yet more,
And there is one who withholds what is appropriate but ends up only in want.

The blessing soul will prosper,
And he who waters will also be watered himself.

As for him who withholds grain, the people will curse him;
But blessing will be upon the head of him who sells it.

He who diligently seeks good seeks favor;
But as for him who searches after evil, it will come to him.

He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,
And a fool will be servant to the wise in heart.

The fruit of the righteous man is a tree of life,
And he who is wise wins souls.

If the righteous man will be recompensed on the earth,
How much more the wicked man and the sinner!