1From Sha'ul, a Shliach of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua birtzon Hashem(by the will of G-d), and Timotiyos, the Ach b'Moshiach; To the Kehillah (Congregation) of Hashem existing in Corinth, with all the Kedoshim throughout Achaia.

2Chen v'Chesed Hashem to you and shalom from Elohim Avinu and Adoneinu Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua.

3Baruch hu Hashem Elohim Avi of Adoneinu Yehoshua HaMoshiach, Avi HaRachamim vaElohei kol nechamah (comfort), ⁰

4The one giving us chizzuk (strengthening) with respect to all our tzoros so as to enable us to give chizzuk to the ones experiencing tzoros, and that through the nechamah (comfort) by which we ourselves are comforted ¹by Hashem. ²

5This is so because as the Chevlei Moshiach (birth pangs of Moshiach) abound to us, so through Moshiach abounds also our nechamah. ³

6Now if we are experiencing tzoros, it is for your chizzuk (strengthening) and Yeshu'at Eloheinu; or if we are being given nechamah (comfort), it is for your nechamah that is producing in you the chozek (strength) of savlanut (patience) for the endurance of the tzoros which we also suffer. ⁴

7And our tikvah (hope) for you is well-founded, for we have da'as that as you have deveykus (cleaving to) the Chevlei Moshiach, so also you will have deveykus to the nechamah.

8For we do not want you to lack da'as, Achim b'Moshiach, as to the tzoros and tribulation that came upon us in Asia, ⁵that utterly beyond our strength we were burdened, causing us to come to a feeling of ye'ush (despair) even of being able to stay alive.

9But we ourselves have had the gezar din (verdict) of mishpat mavet (a death sentence) in ourselves so that we should not have emunah (faith) in ourselves but in Hashem, Mechayyei Mesim (Who Revivest the Dead). ⁶

10The same G-d out of so great a Mavet delivered us and will continue to deliver us. We have set tikvateinu (our hope) that he will yet deliver us, ⁷

11As you also labor together for us by techinnah (supplication), so that the “Modeh Ani” for us will be said by the many ⁸for the matanah (gift) granted us through the tefillos of the many.

12For our glorying is in this: the edut (testimony) of our matzpun (conscience) ⁹is that without remiyah (guile, fraud, deceit) and with lev tahor ¹⁰(pure heart ), with the sincerity of Hashem ¹¹and not in the “chochmah” of the basar ¹²but in the Chen v'Chesed of Hashem, we conducted ourselves in the Olam Hazeh, and more especially toward you.

13For we write nothing so shver (complex) to you that you cannot read and have binah (understanding), and I have tikvah that you will have da'as shlemah until HaKetz,

14As you have already had da'as of us in part, as also we are your kavod, ¹³even as also you are ours in the Yom Hashem of Adoneinu Yehoshua. ¹⁴

15And with this bitachon (confidence) I planned previously to come to you, that a second benefit you might have.

16It was my cheshbon (plan) to visit you by way of Macedonia and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be sent on to Yehudah (Judea). ¹⁵

17This was my matarah (aim, goal); surely then I did not act with vacillation? Or when I make plans, ¹⁶do I have a cheshbon according to the basar, ready with “Ken, Ken!” and then, “Lo! Lo!”

18Al emunat Hashem(in the faithfulness of G-d), our dvar to you has not been “Ken” and “Lo.”

19For the Zun fun der Oybershter, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, the One having been proclaimed among you by us, by Silvanus (Sila) and Timotiyos and me, ¹⁷was not a “Ken and Lo”; but in Him it has always been “Ken.”

20For in Moshiach every one of Hashemʼs havtachot (promises) is a “Ken.” For this reason it is b'Shem Moshiach that we say the “Omein” to the kavod of Hashem. ¹⁸

21But it is Hashem who establishes us with you in Moshiach and has given us the mishchah ¹⁹(anointing),

22Having put his chotam ²⁰on us and having given the eravon (pledge) of the Ruach Hakodesh in our levavot ²¹(hearts). ²²

23Now, I call upon Hashem as eidus (witness) against my nefesh, my neshamah (soul), that it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth. ²³

24Not that we play the gontser macher to domineer over your emunah (faith), ²⁴but we are fellow po'alim for your simcha, for by emunah you stand.