11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For ^hI was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, ⁱeven though I am nothing. 12 ^jThe signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that ^kI myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

14 Here ^lfor the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For ^mchildren are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 ⁿI will most gladly spend and be spent ^ofor your souls. If ^pI love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17 Did I take advantage of you through any of ^qthose whom I sent to you? 18 ^rI urged Titus to go, and sent ^sthe brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been ^tdefending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your ^uupbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps when I come ^vI may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be ^wquarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.