1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one. 3 I say this not to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and live together. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all our affliction.
5 For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside. 6 Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you while he told us of your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.
8 For though I grieved you with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I see that my letter made you grieve, though just for a while. 9 I now rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved to repentance. For you were grieved in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For behold, this same thing, that you were grieved in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vindication! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be revealed in you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore we have been comforted. In our comfort we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth. 15 His affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembers all of your obedience, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16 I rejoice that in everything I am confident concerning you.
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。