3. I do not say this to condemn you; for, as I have said before, you are so dear to us that we are always together, whether we live or die.
4. I am so sure of you; I take such pride in you! In all our troubles I am still full of courage; I am running over with joy.
5. Even after we arrived in Macedonia, we had no rest. There were troubles everywhere, quarrels with others, fears in our hearts.
6. But God, who encourages the downhearted, encouraged us with the coming of Titus.
7. It was not only his coming that cheered us, but also his report of how you encouraged him. He told us how much you want to see me, how sorry you are, how ready you are to defend me; and so I am even happier now.
8. For even if that letter of mine made you sad, I am not sorry I wrote it. I could have been sorry when I saw that it made you sad for a while.
9. But now I am happy — not because I made you sad, but because your sadness made you change your ways. That sadness was used by God, and so we caused you no harm.
10. For the sadness that is used by God brings a change of heart that leads to salvation — and there is no regret in that! But sadness that is merely human causes death.