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 Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

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 for your joy; for by faith you stand.

¹

But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow.

²

For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

³

And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.

⁴

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.