2 Corinthians 12
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
Well, it is not of profit to me to boast, for I will come to visions and revelations of [the] Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows.
I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago, (whether in [the] body I know not, or out of the body I know not, God knows; ) such [a one] caught up to [the] third heaven.
3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—
And I know such a man, (whether in [the] body or out of the body I know not, God knows; )
4 was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell.
that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable things said which it is not allowed to man to utter.
5 I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
Of such [a one] I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, unless in my weaknesses.
6 Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,
For if I shall desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will say [the] truth; but I forbear, lest any one should think as to me above what he sees me [to be], or whatever he may hear of me.
7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
And that I might not be exalted by the exceeding greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
For this I thrice besought the Lord that it might depart from me.
9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
And he said to me, My grace suffices thee; for [my] power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may dwell upon me.
10 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in straits, for Christ: for when I am weak, then I am powerful.
11 I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
I have become a fool; ye have compelled me; for I ought to have been commended by you; for I have been nothing behind those who were in surpassing degree apostles, if also I am nothing.
12 The true marks of an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.
The signs indeed of the apostle were wrought among you in all endurance, signs, and wonders, and works of power.
13 In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
For in what is it that ye have been inferior to the other assemblies, unless that I myself have not been in laziness a charge upon you? Forgive me this injury.
14 See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be in laziness a charge; for I do not seek yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
Now I shall most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your souls, if even in abundantly loving you I should be less loved.
16 Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
But be it so. I did not burden you, but being crafty I took you by guile.
17 Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?
Did I make gain of you by any of those whom I have sent to you?
18 I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
I begged Titus, and sent the brother with [him]: did Titus at all make gain of you? have we not walked in the same spirit? [have we] not in the same steps?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
Ye have long been supposing that we excuse ourselves to you: we speak before God in Christ; and all things, beloved, for your building up.
20 For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
For I fear lest perhaps coming I find you not such as I wish, and that I be found by you such as ye do not wish: lest [there might be] strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, evil speakings, whisperings, puffings up, disturbances;
21 I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.
lest my God should humble me as to you when I come again, and that I shall grieve over many of those who have sinned before, and have not repented as to the uncleanness and fornication and licentiousness which they have practised.
