For I am full of words, and my spirit compels me to speak.My heart is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like new wineskins.I must speak so that I can find relief; I must open my lips and respond.
If I say,“ I won’t mention Him or speak any longer in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones. I become tired of holding it in, and I cannot prevail.
For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart— not that you should be hurt, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree— not to exaggerate— to all of you.The punishment inflicted by the majority is sufficient for that person.
But I am full of the Lord’s wrath; I am tired of holding it back. Pour it out on the children in the street, on the gang of young men as well. For both husband and wife will be captured, the old with the very old.
For even if I grieved you with my letter, I do not regret it— even though I did regret it since I saw that the letter grieved you, yet only for a little while.Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you were grieved as God willed, so that you didn’t experience any loss from us.For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death.
