Therefore, although I wrote to you, [I did] not [do it] for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent -- not to be too severe.

Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn [you.]

For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet [you do] not [have] many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.

You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your [own] affections.

You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, [Or to] turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people [shall be] my people, And your God, my God.

Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If [anything but] death parts you and me."

So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.