1 所以， 亲爱的， 我们有了这些应许， 就应该洁净自己， 除去身体和心灵上的一切污秽， 存着敬畏 神的心， 达到成圣的地步。 2 你们的心要容得下我们。我们没有亏负过谁， 没有损害过谁， 也没有占过谁的便宜。 3 我这样说， 不是要定你们的罪， 因为我从前说过， 你们常在我们心里， 甚至可以同生共死。 4 我对你们大有信心， 因你们而感到十分光荣； 我心里满有安慰， 在我们的一切患难中， 格外充满喜乐。 5 我们从前到了马其顿的时候， 身体一点安宁也没有， 反而处处遭受患难， 外面有争战， 里面有恐惧。 6 但那安慰灰心的人的 神， 借着提多来到， 安慰了我们； 7 不但借着他来， 也借着他从你们所得的安慰， 安慰了我们。他把你们的渴望、你们的哀恸和你们对我的热诚， 都告诉了我们， 因此我就更加欢喜了。 8 虽然我在那封信上使你们忧伤， 但我现在并不后悔； 其实我曾经有点后悔， 因为知道那封信使你们忧伤， 虽然只是暂时的。 9 现在我快乐， 不是因为你们忧伤， 而是因为你们的忧伤带来了悔改。你们依照 神的意思忧伤， 凡事就不会因我们受到亏损。 10 因为依照 神的意思而有的忧伤， 可以生出没有懊悔的悔改， 以致得救； 世俗的忧伤却会招致死亡。 11 看哪， 你们依照 神的意思忧伤， 在你们中间就产生了怎样的热情、申诉、愤慨、战兢、渴望、热诚、正义； 你们在各方面都表明了自己在那事上是清白的。 12 因此， 从前我虽然写过信给你们， 却不是为了那亏负人的， 也不是为了那受害的， 而是在 神面前把你们对我们的热情， 向你们显现出来。 13 因此， 我们得了安慰。在这安慰之外， 我们因提多的喜乐就更加欢喜， 因为他的心从你们众人那里得到畅快。 14 我若对他夸奖过你们什么， 也不觉得惭愧。我们对你们所说的是真话， 照样， 我们在提多面前夸奖你们的也是真的。 15 并且他想起你们众人的服从， 怎样恐惧战兢地接待他， 他怀念你们的心就更加热切了。 16 现在我很欢喜， 因为在一切事上我对你们都有信心。

1 Having, then, these promises, beloved, may we cleanse ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God;2 receive us; no one did we wrong; no one did we waste; no one did we defraud;3 not to condemn you do I say [it], for I have said before that in our hearts ye are to die with and to live with;4 great [is] my freedom of speech unto you, great my glory on your behalf; I have been filled with the comfort, I overabound with the joy on all our tribulation,5 for also we, having come to Macedonia, no relaxation hath our flesh had, but on every side we are in tribulation, without [are] fightings, within -- fears;6 but He who is comforting the cast-down -- God -- He did comfort us in the presence of Titus;7 and not only in his presence, but also in the comfort with which he was comforted over you, declaring to us your longing desire, your lamentation, your zeal for me, so that the more I did rejoice,8 because even if I made you sorry in the letter, I do not repent -- if even I did repent -- for I perceive that the letter, even if for an hour, did make you sorry.9 I now do rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry to reformation, for ye were made sorry toward God, that in nothing ye might receive damage from us;10 for the sorrow toward God reformation to salvation not to be repented of doth work, and the sorrow of the world doth work death,11 for, lo, this same thing -- your being made sorry toward God -- how much diligence it doth work in you! but defence, but displeasure, but fear, but longing desire, but zeal, but revenge; in every thing ye did approve yourselves to be pure in the matter.12 If, then, I also wrote to you -- not for his cause who did wrong, nor for his cause who did suffer wrong, but for our diligence in your behalf being manifested unto you before God --13 because of this we have been comforted in your comfort, and more abundantly the more did we rejoice in the joy of Titus, that his spirit hath been refreshed from you all;14 because if anything to him in your behalf I have boasted, I was not put to shame; but as all things in truth we did speak to you, so also our boasting before Titus became truth,15 and his tender affection is more abundantly toward you, remembering the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye did receive him;16 I rejoice, therefore, that in everything I have courage in you.