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.

Surely it is not beneficial for me to boast, yet I will go on to visions and revelations from 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 who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. (Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows.)

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 that this man (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; 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.

was caught up to Paradise and heard words too sacred to be spoken, which man is not permitted to utter.

5 I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.

I will boast on behalf of that man, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about 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,

But even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. Nevertheless, I refrain so that no one will think more of me than what he sees in me or hears 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 to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations I received, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me so that I would not become conceited.

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away 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.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for yoʋ, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so 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.

So I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, and in distresses for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am 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 have become a fool by boasting; you compelled me to do it. I ought to have been commended by you, for in no way have I been inferior to these “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

12 The true marks of an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.

The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with great perseverance, with signs, wonders, and miracles.

13 In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

In what way were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this injustice!

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, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not burden you, for I do not seek what belongs to you, but you yourselves. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their 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?

So I will most gladly spend and be entirely spent for the sake of your souls, even if the more I love you, the less I am loved.

16 Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.

Be that as it may, I did not burden you. But crafty fellow that I am, I apparently took you in by deceit!

17 Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?

Did I take advantage of you through any of the men I 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 urged Titus to visit you and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit and in the same footsteps?

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.

Do you still think that we are defending ourselves to you? In the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything we do, beloved, is for your edification.

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 that when I come I may not find you as I wish, and that you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarrels, jealousies, fits of anger, selfish ambitions, insults, words of gossip, puffed up behaviors, and disorderly actions.

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.

I fear that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many who have previously sinned and not repented of the impurity, fornication, and sensuality they have practiced.