<t /><p class="bodytext">For our reason for confidence<n id="1" /> is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives<n id="2" /> and sincerity which are from God<n id="3" /> &#8211; not by human wisdom<n id="4" /> but by the grace of God &#8211; we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more<n id="5" /> toward you.

Therefore when I was planning to do this, I did not do so without thinking about what I was doing, did I?<n id="1" /> Or do I make my plans<n id="2" /> according to mere human standards<n id="3" /> so that I would be saying<n id="4" /> both &#8220;Yes, yes&#8221; and &#8220;No, no&#8221; at the same time?

<t /><p class="bodytext">But if the ministry that produced death &#8211; carved in letters on stone tablets<n id="1" /> &#8211; came with glory, so that the Israelites<n id="2" /> could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face<n id="3" /> (a glory<n id="4" /> which was made ineffective),<n id="5" />

But we have rejected<n id="1" /> shameful hidden deeds,<n id="2" /> not behaving<n id="3" /> with deceptiveness<n id="4" /> or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone&#8217;s conscience before God.

For we groan while we are in this tent,<n id="1" /> since we are weighed down,<n id="2" /> because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

We were encouraged<n id="1" /> not only by his arrival, but also by the encouragement<n id="2" /> you gave<n id="3" /> him, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning,<n id="4" /> your deep concern<n id="5" /> for me, so that I rejoiced more than ever.

For even if I made you sad<n id="1" /> by my letter,<n id="2" /> I do not regret having written it<n id="3" /> (even though I did regret it,<n id="4" /> for<n id="5" /> I see that my letter made you sad,<n id="6" /> though only for a short time).

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

For if someone comes and proclaims<n id="1" /> another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed,<n id="2" /> or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received,<n id="3" /> or a different gospel than the one you accepted,<n id="4" /> you put up with it well enough!<n id="5" />

When<n id="1" /> I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs.<n id="2" /> I<n id="3" /> kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven.

For how<n id="1" /> were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!

Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have<n id="1" /> to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive<n id="1" /> I may not have to deal harshly with you<n id="2" /> by using my authority &#8211; the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!p>