great glorying on
your account; I am full of comfort, I have a super-abounding joy in all
our afflictions. [7:5]For when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no
rest, but we were distressed on every hand; without were conflicts,
within fears; [7:6]but God who comforts the humble comforted us by the
coming of Titus; [7:7]and not only by his coming but also by the
comfort with which he was comforted on your account, telling us of your
great desire, your deep sorrow, your zeal for me, so that I rather
rejoiced. [7:8]For if I even grieved you by the epistle, I do not
repent, though I did repent; for because I see that the epistle grieved
you but for a time, [7:9]now I rejoice, not that you were grieved, but
that you grieved to a change of mind; for you were grieved in a godly
manner, to suffer injury from us in nothing. [7:10]For godly sorrow
produces a change of mind to salvation not to be repented of; but the
sorrow of the world produces death. [7:11]For behold, this same thing,
that you grieved in a godly manner, how great diligence it produced in
you, what a defense, what indignation, what fear, what desire, what
zeal, what a punishment! In every thing you proved yourselves to be
clear in this matter.

21 [7:12]If therefore I wrote to you, it was not on account of him that
did the wrong, nor on account of him that suffered wrong, but that our
diligence in your behalf might be manifest before God. [7:13]On this
account we were comforted. And in addition to our comfort, we rejoiced
more abundantly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed
by you all; [7:14]for if I had boasted of you to him I was not ashamed,
but as we said all things to you in truth, so also the boasting of you
to Titus was truth. [7:15]And his affection is more abundant for you,
remembering the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you
received him. [7:16]I rejoice that I have confidence in you in every
thing.

CHAPTER II.

A CONTRIBUTION SOLICITED FOR THE SAINTS AT JERUSALEM.

1 [8:1]AND I make known to you, brothers, the grace of God given to the
churches of Macedonia, [8:2]that in much trying affliction the
abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of
their liberality. [8:3]For according to their ability, I testify, and
beyond their ability, of their own accord, [8:4]with much entreaty they
desired of us the favor of a participation in the service to the
saints; [8:5]and not as we hoped,