2 Corinthians 12
1 (Really, to me boasting is not helpful.) For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
IT is not expedient doubtless for me to boast. I will yet come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in body, I know not, or whether outside the body, I know not, God knows) such a man was caught up as far as the third heaven.
I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body I know not, or whether out of the body I know not: God knoweth; ) such a one was caught up unto the third heavens.
3 And I know such a man (whether in body, or whether outside the body, I know not, God knows)
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body or out of the body I know not: God knoweth, )
4 that he was caught up into the paradise, and heard inexpressible sayings that are not permitted for a man to utter.
that he was caught up into paradise, and heard ineffable words, which it is not permitted to man to speak.
5 For such a man I will boast, but for myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
Of such a one will I boast; but in myself will I not boast, save in my infirmities.
6 For if I should want to boast, I will not be foolish, for I will speak the truth. But I refrain lest any man should reckon to me above what he sees of me or hears anything from me.
For though I should be disposed to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I shall speak truth: but I desist, lest any man think of me above what he seeth me to be, or what he heareth of me.
7 And so that I might not be over exalted by the extraordinariness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, an agent of Satan so that he would buffet me, so that I would not be over exalted.
And that I might not be lifted up above measure by the transcendent greatness of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the angel Satan, to buffet me, that I might not be lifted up above measure.
8 I besought the Lord thrice about this, that it might depart from me.
For this thrice I besought the Lord, that he might depart from me.
9 And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my power is made fully perfect in weakness. More gladly therefore I will boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of the Christ may reside in me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may fix its residence in me.
10 Therefore I am pleased in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in restrictions, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I have become foolish, boasting. Ye compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I came short in nothing of those, superlative apostles, even though I am nothing.
Have I become a fool in boasting? ye have compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing have I been inferior to the very chief apostles, though I be nothing.
12 Indeed the signs of the apostle were performed among you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
The signs indeed of an apostle have been wrought among you in all patience, in miracles, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13 For what is there which ye were inferior to the other congregations? Except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.
For what is there wherein ye have been inferior to the other churches, except that I have not been burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.
14 Behold, a third time I fare readily to come to you, and I will not be burdensome to you, for I seek not the things of you, but you. For the children ought not lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Lo! I hold myself ready the third time to come unto you, and I will not burden you; for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up treasure for their parents, but the parents for the children.
15 And I most gladly will spend, and will be spent for your souls. Even though more earnestly loving you, the worse I am loved.
And I will most cheerfully spend and be spent for your souls, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.
16 But let it be. I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being clever, I caught you with bait.
But admit it, I was not burdensome to you: but being crafty, I caught you with guile.
17 Any man of whom I have sent to you, did I exploit you through him?
Did I make a gain of you by any one individual whom I sent unto you?
18 I encouraged Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in anything? Did we not walk in the same spirit, not in the same steps?
I entreated Titus to go to you, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make any advantage of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
19 Again, do ye think that we are making defense to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edification.
Think ye that we are again making an apology to you? In the sight of God speak we in Christ: but all things, beloved, for your edification.
20 For I fear lest somehow, having come, I may find you not such as I want, and I may be found by you such as ye do not want, lest somehow there be strifes, envyings, wraths, selfish ambitions, slanderings, whisperings, puffings up, turmoils,
For I am afraid that when I come I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found of you such as ye would not: lest haply there be contentions, jealousies, animosities, quarrels, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
21 lest having come again my God will make me low toward you, and I will bewail many of those who have sinned previously, and who did not repent from the trash and fornication and licentiousness that they committed.
and lest when I come to you again, my God should bow me down, and I should lament over many who have sinned before, and have not repented of the impurities, and whoredom, and lasciviousness which they have committed.
