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.
I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but 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 whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even 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 apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),
4 was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell.
how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save 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 should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me [to be], or heareth from 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 by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations—wherefore, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, 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 hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for [my] power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest 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 injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
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 am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.
12 The true marks of an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works.
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 what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except [it be] that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong.
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 is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden to you: for I seek not 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?
And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
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 myself burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
17 Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?
Did I take advantage of you by any one of them whom I have sent unto 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 exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not by the same Spirit? [walked 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 think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, [are] for your edifying.
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 by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means [there should be] strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;
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, when I come again, my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed.
