1 But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow. 2 For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me? 3 And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be shared by all of you. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made to grieve, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.

5 But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all. 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one; 7 so that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow. 8 Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

12 Now when I came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord, 13 I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia.

14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. 15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God in those who are saved and in those who perish: 16 to the one a stench from death to death, to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

1 我自己决定了， 到你们那里去的时候， 不再是忧愁的。

2 如果我使你们忧愁， 除了那因我而忧愁的人以外， 谁能使我快乐呢？

3 我写了这样的信， 免得我来的时候， 应该使我快乐的人反而使我忧愁； 我深信你们众人都以我的喜乐为你们的喜乐。

4 我从前心里痛苦难过， 流着眼泪写信给你们， 并不是要使你们忧愁， 而是要你们知道我是多么爱你们。

5 如果有人使人忧愁， 他不是使我忧愁， 而是使你们众人都有一点忧愁； 我只说有一点， 是避免说得过分。

6 这样的人受了许多人的责备， 也就够了，

7 倒不如饶恕他， 安慰他， 免得他因忧愁过度而受不了。

8 所以， 我劝你们要向他确实显明你们的爱心。

9 为这缘故， 我写了那封信， 要考验你们是不是凡事都顺从。

10 你们饶恕谁， 我也饶恕谁； 我所饶恕了的（如果我饶恕过什么）， 是为了你们在基督面前饶恕的，

11 免得撒但有机可乘， 因为我们并不是不晓得他的诡计。

12 从前我为基督的福音到了特罗亚， 虽然主给我开了门，

13 我心里仍然没有安宁， 因为见不到提多弟兄。于是我辞别了那里的人， 到马其顿去了。

14 感谢 神， 他常常在基督里， 使我们这些作俘虏的， 列在凯旋的队伍当中， 又借着我们在各地散播香气， 就是使人认识基督。

15 因为无论在得救的人或灭亡的人中间， 我们都是基督的馨香， 是献给 神的。

16 对于灭亡的人， 这是死亡的气味叫人死； 对于得救的人， 这却是生命的香气使人活。这些事谁够资格作呢？

17 我们不像那许多的人， 为了图利而谬讲 神的道。相反地， 我们讲话， 是出于真诚， 出于 神， 是在 神面前、在基督里的。