2 Corinthians 7:8

¹⁹As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.

⁷LORD, you have persuaded me, and I was persuaded. You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day. Everyone mocks me. ⁸For as often as I speak, I cry out; I cry, “Violence and destruction!” because the LORD’s word has been made a reproach to me, and a derision, all day. ⁹If I say that I will not make mention of him, or speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones. I am weary with holding it in. I can’t.

²For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me? ³And 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. ⁴For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made to grieve, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.

⁵But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all. ⁶This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one; ⁷so that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow. ⁸Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him. ⁹For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things. ¹⁰Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, ¹¹that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

¹⁷He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?” Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

²¹As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”

²²They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?”

⁶¹The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he said to him, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.” ⁶²He went out, and wept bitterly.

⁶Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

²²Moses returned to the LORD, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me? ²³For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people. You have not rescued your people at all!”

¹¹For behold, this same thing, that you were grieved in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vindication! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter.

⁹Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰For they indeed for a few days disciplined us as seemed good to them, but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. ¹¹All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.