For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Worketh ... worketh. In the best Greek reading ['Aleph (') B Delta, ergazetai (G2038), the first verb: C G, katergazetai], 'worketh (simply) ... worketh out.' "Sorrow" is not repentance, but when "godly," "worketh" it -
i.e., tends to it (the same Greek; Romans 13:10). The "sorrow of the world" (that felt by the worldly) 'worketh out' (Greek), as its result at last (note, 2 Corinthians 4:17) (eternal) death.
Repentance ... not to be repented of. There is not in the Greek this play on words, so that the word qualified is not "repentance" merely, but 'repentance unto salvation,' 'never to be regretted,' however attended with "sorrow" at the time. "Repentance" implies coming to a right mind; 'regret' implies merely uneasiness of feeling, as the remorse of Judas (Matthew 27:3: Greek, 'stricken with remorse;' not as English version, "repented himself"); so that, though always accompanying, is not always accompanied by repentance. "Repentance" remove the impediments to "salvation" (to which "death" - namely, of the soul-is opposed). "The sorrow of the world" is not at the sin, but at its penal consequences; so that the tears of pain are no sooner dried up, than the pleasures of ungodliness are renewed:, also sorrow such as the world feels at worldly losses, disappointments, etc. So Pharaoh (Exodus 9:27-30) and Saul (1 Samuel 15:23-30). Compare Isaiah 9:13; Revelation 16:10-11. Contrast David's "godly sorrow" (2 Samuel 12:13) and Peter's (Matthew 26:75).