1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions and God of all comfort,

4 who encourages us in all our affliction, that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction, through the comfort by which we ourselves are encouraged by God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our comfort also abounds through Christ.

6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation, being effective in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are encouraged, it is for your comfort and salvation.

7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the comfort.

8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened exceedingly, beyond strength, so that we despaired even of life.

9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,

10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us, in whom we hope that He will still deliver us,

11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given through many persons on our behalf for the gracious gift granted to us by many.

12 For our rejoicing is this: the testimony of our conscience, that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.

13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. And I hope you will understand, even to the end

14 (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your rejoicing as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

15 And in this confidence I intended to come to you before now, that you might have a second benefit;

16 to journey on through you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and be sent by you on towards Judea.

17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?

18 But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you through us; through me, Silvanus, and Timothy; was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.

20 For as many promises as are of God, in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God through us.

21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,

22 who also has sealed us and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

23 Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.

24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers of your joy; for by faith you stand.