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 being 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 Seetõttu otsustasin ma iseeneses mitte ette võtta veel üht valusat külaskäiku teie juurde. 2 Sest kui ma teid teen kurvaks, kes siis pärast veel mind rõõmustab kui vaid teie, keda ma olen kurvaks teinud? 3 Just seepärast ma kirjutasin teile, et teie juurde tulles ei teeks mind murelikuks need, kes oleksid pidanud mind rõõmustama. Ma olen veendunud teis kõigis, et minu rõõm on teie kõikide rõõm. 4 Ma kirjutasin teile suures ahistuses ja südamevalus rohkete pisaratega, aga mitte selleks, et teid kurvastada, vaid et te mõistaksite minu armastuse sügavust teie vastu.

5 Ent kui keegi on kurvastust põhjustanud, siis ta ei ole kurvastanud ainult mind, vaid mingil määral, et mitte liialdada, teid kõiki. 6 Temale piisab noomitusest, mille ta enamikult teist on saanud. 7 Nüüd te peate talle andeks andma ja teda julgustama, et ta liigsesse kurvastusse ei upuks. 8 Seepärast ma kutsun teid üles taaskinnitama oma armastust tema vastu.

9 Niisiis oli mu kirja eesmärk panna proovile teie tublidust ja näha, kas olete kõiges kuulekad. 10 Kellele teie aga midagi andestate, sellele andestan minagi. Ja kui minul midagi üldse oli andestada, siis olen ma seda juba teinud teie pärast Kristuse palge ees, 11 et saatan ei saaks meid üle kavaldada. Sest tema salasepitsused ei ole meile teadmata.

12 Aga kui ma Troasesse tulin Kristuse evangeeliumi kuulutama ja nägin, et Issand oli mulle avanud ukse, 13 ei saanud ma ikka meelerahu, sest ma ei leidnud sealt oma venda Tiitust. Ma jätsin nendega hüvasti ja tulin Makedooniasse.

14 Aga tänu olgu Jumalale, kes meid Kristuses viib alati võidukäigus kaasa ja teeb meie kaudu kõikjal avalikuks tema tunnetuse lõhna. 15 Sest meie oleme Kristuse hea lõhn Jumala jaoks nii nende seas, kes päästetakse, kui nende seas, kes lähevad hukka. 16 Ühtedele oleme lõhn, mis toob surma; teistele lõhn, mis toob elu. Ja kes selleks kõlbab? 17 Erinevalt paljudest ei kauple me Jumala sõnaga kasu saamise eesmärgil. Vastupidi, me kõneleme Jumala ees siiralt nagu need, kelle Jumal on läkitanud Kristuses.