¹Furthermore, when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and a door was open to me  ²in the Lord,

I had no rest in my  ¹spirit, for I did not find Titus my brother; but taking leave of them, I went forth into  ²Macedonia.

But thanks be to God, who always  ¹leads  ²us in triumph in  ³the Christ and manifests the  ⁴savor of the knowledge of Him through  ⁵us in every place.

For we  ¹are a fragrance of Christ to God in those who are being saved and in those who are perishing:

To some a savor out of death  ¹unto death, and to the others a savor out of life  ¹unto life. And who is  ²sufficient for these things?

For we are not like the many,  ¹adulterating the word of God for profit; but as out of sincerity, but as out of God, before God we  ²speak in Christ.

Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some do, letters of commendation to you or from you?

You are  ¹our letter, inscribed in  ²our hearts, known and read by all men,

Since you are being manifested that you are a  ¹letter of Christ  ²ministered by us, inscribed not with ink but  ³with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone but in tablets of  ⁴hearts of flesh.

And such confidence we have through Christ toward God,

Not that we are  ¹sufficient of ourselves to  ²account anything as from ourselves; but our  ³sufficiency is from God,

Who has also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, ministers not of the  ¹letter but of the  ²Spirit; for the  ³letter kills, but the  ⁴Spirit gives life.

Moreover if the  ¹ministry of death, engraved in stone in letters, came about in  ²glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to gaze at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, a glory which was being done away with,

How shall the  ¹ministry of the Spirit not be more in  ²glory?

For if there is glory with the ministry of  ¹condemnation, much more the ministry of  ²righteousness  ³abounds with glory.

For also that which has been  ¹glorified  ²in this respect  ³has not been glorified on account of the surpassing glory.

For if that which was  ¹being done away with was  ²through glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

Whoever loves correction loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof is stupid.

A good man will obtain the favor of Jehovah,
But a man of wicked devices He will condemn.

A man will not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous will not be moved.

A worthy woman is the crown of her husband,
But she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.

The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.

A man will be praised according to his prudence,
But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.

Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,
Than he who honors himself and lacks bread.

A righteous man regards the life of his beast,
But the inward parts of the wicked are cruel.

He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense.

The wicked man desires the catch of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.

In the transgression of the lips there is a snare for the evil man,
But the righteous man will come out of trouble.

A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
And the result of man's deeds will be rendered to him.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man listens to counsel.

A fool's anger is known  ¹at once,
But a prudent man conceals shame.

He who utters truth tells forth righteousness;
But a false witness, deceit.

There is one who speaks rashly like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.

The lip of truth shall be established forever,
But a lying tongue is only for a moment.

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.

No harm will happen to the righteous man,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.

Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.

A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims folly.

The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the slothful will be under forced labor.

Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down,
But a good word brings it joy.

The righteous man is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.

The slothful man does not roast his game,
But the precious substance of men is to the diligent.

In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.

A wise son  ¹hears his father's instruction,
But a scorner does not listen to rebuke.

A man will eat good from the fruit of his mouth,
But the desire of the treacherous is violence.

He who guards his mouth keeps his soul,
But he who opens wide his lips will have destruction.

The soul of the sluggard desires and has nothing,
But the soul of the diligent will be made fat.

A righteous man hates what is false,
But a wicked man is odious and is confounded.

Righteousness guards him who is blameless in the way,
But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

There is one who pretends to be rich yet has nothing;
There is one who pretends to be poor yet has great wealth.

The ransom of a man's life is his riches,
But the poor hears no threatening.

The light of the righteous rejoices,
But the lamp of the wicked goes out.

Through pride comes nothing but strife,
But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.

Wealth obtained by vanity will be diminished,
But he who gathers by labor increases it.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when what is desired comes, it is a tree of life.

Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn one aside from the snares of death.

Good understanding gives favor,
But the way of the treacherous is hard.

Every prudent man works with knowledge,
But a fool displays his folly.

A wicked messenger falls into evil,
But a faithful envoy brings healing.

Poverty and shame will come to him who refuses correction,
But he who regards reproof will be honored.

A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be troubled.

Evil pursues sinners,
But good recompenses the righteous.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous man.

The fallow ground of the poor yields much food,
But it is destroyed through injustice.

He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him chastens him early.

The righteous man eats to the satisfying of his soul,
But the belly of the wicked will lack.