23 But ^eI call God to witness against me—^fit was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you ^gstand firm in your faith.

1 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For ^hif I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And ⁱI wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for ^jI felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.