2 Corinthians 2:5

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.

who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you.

but there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.

I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.

He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,

For you are our glory and our joy.

Only on this condition will we consent to you. If you will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised,

He said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!

Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment;

are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

as also you acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart.

I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?

This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage,

But from those who were reputed to be important—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn’t show partiality to man—they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,

I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,

They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.

holding up the word of life, that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain.

Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you.

Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate, and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!”

Joab was told, “Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.”

When he had departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him, and said to him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?” Jehonadab answered, “It is.” “If it is, give me your hand.” He gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.

A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.

A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.

A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.

He who robs his father and drives away his mother, is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

They have been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children and not to walk after the customs.

For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,

Now I beg you, brothers, through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it.

I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so you are also of the comfort.

In this confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit,

For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me?

This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one;

Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

Now in return, I speak as to my children: you also open your hearts.

Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all our affliction.

and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you while he told us of your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

I rejoice that in everything I am confident concerning you.

We have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you.

for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to those of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.

Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is made full.

For you bear with a man if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, or if he strikes you on the face.

For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.

But when I saw that they didn’t walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?

Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified?

I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.

but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.

But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body.

being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

so that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ,

that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command.

Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.