2 Corinthians 7:9
7 and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.
8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Although I did regret it, I now see that my letter caused you sorrow, but only for a short time.
And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.
10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
11 Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.
- KJV
- Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
- WEB
- I now rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved to repentance. For you were grieved in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing.
- ASV
- I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing.
- DARBY
- Now I rejoice, not that ye have been grieved, but that ye have been grieved to repentance; for ye have been grieved according to God, that in nothing ye might be injured by us.
- BLB
- Now I rejoice, not that you⁺ were grieved, but that you⁺ were grieved unto repentance. For you⁺ were grieved according to God, so that you⁺ might suffer loss in nothing through us.
- ÅB
- så gleder jeg meg nå, ikke over at dere ble bedrøvet, men over at dere ble bedrøvet til omvendelse; for dere ble bedrøvet etter Guds sinn, for at dere ikke skulle lide noen skade ved oss.
- OTB
- Jeg gleder meg nå, ikke fordi dere ble gjort sorgfulle, men fordi deres sorg førte til omvendelse; for dere ble gjort sorgfulle på en måte som stemmer med Guds vilje, slik at dere ikke led noe tap fra oss.
- B1930
- så gleder jeg mig nu, ikke over at I blev bedrøvet, men over at I blev bedrøvet til omvendelse; for I blev bedrøvet efter Guds sinn, forat I ikke skulde lide nogen skade ved oss.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Luke 15:7
In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
Read in contextJeremiah 31:18–20
I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 7:3
Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart.
Read in context2 Corinthians 13:8–10
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
Read in context2 Corinthians 7:10–11
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Read in contextPsalms 38:18
Yes, I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.
Read in contextZechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
Read in context2 Corinthians 10:8–10
For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.
Read in context