as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison ¹  to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.

as it is written: “The one who gathered ¹  much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.” ² 

For we do not write you anything other than what ¹  you can read and also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely ² 

We have spoken freely to you, ¹  Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide to you.

It is necessary to go on boasting. ¹  Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated ¹  (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you. ² 

Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad, ¹  but because you were made sad to the point of repentance. For you were made sad as God intended, ²  so that you were not harmed ³  in any way by us.

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we behave with great boldness, ¹ 

Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, ¹  and I will welcome ²  you, ³ 

because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak ¹  and his speech is of no account.” ² 

For if I have boasted to him about anything concerning you, I have not been embarrassed by you, ¹  but just as everything we said to you was true, ²  so our boasting to Titus about you ³  has proved true as well.

Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, ¹  but so that you may do what is right ²  even if we may appear to have failed the test. ³