The Book of Mormon

Mormon 2:13

1830 Edition

But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God, but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin.

Changes

But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God,; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin.

Simple English

But my happiness did not last. They were not really sorry. They were not sad because of God’s goodness. They were sad like people who are going to be punished. They were sad because the Lord would not let them be happy while doing wrong.

Paraphrase

But my hope was empty. Their sorrow wasn’t real repentance over how they’d rejected God’s goodness. It was the desperate grief of people who are damned—bitter because the Lord wouldn’t let them enjoy their sin anymore.