2 Corinthians 7:10

For godly sorrow worketh repentance Rather, For the sorrow which is according to God (that is aftir God, Wiclif) worketh change of mind. The difference between the true repentance and the false remorse may be illustrated by the cases of David and Saul, St Peter and Judas.

to salvation not to be repented of Or not to be regretted, the word here used involving the idea of sorrow or anxiety. It is by most commentators connected with salvation, as though that were the result not to be regretted. But it may as naturally be referred to the change of mind. "The beautiful law is," says Robertson, "that in proportion as the repentance increases, the grief diminishes. -I rejoice," says St Paul, -that I made you sorry, though it were but for a time." Grief for a time, but repentance for ever."

but the sorrow of the world i.e. of the world untouched and un-regenerated by the Spirit of God the sorrow of the natural man, "the opposite of the sorrow according to God." Stanley. See 1 Corinthians 2:14.

worketh death Death of the body, sometimes, as when despair tempts to suicide, or brings on deadly sickness. Death of the soul, when sorrow fails to melt the heart, but leads it to that state of rebellious stubbornness, of entire alienation from God, which is expressed in the words "hardness of heart and contempt of His word and commandment." Cf. Proverbs 17:22.