2 Corinthians 12

1 Well, it is not of profit to me to boast, for I will come to visions and revelations of [the] Lord.

It is indeed not expedient for me to boast; I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 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.

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 such a man, (whether in [the] body or out of the body I know not, God knows; )

And I know such a man, whether in the body, or without the body, I know not; God knoweth, —

4 that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable things said which it is not allowed to man to utter.

that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 Of such [a one] I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, unless in my weaknesses.

Of such a one I will boast; but of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.

6 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.

For if I should desire to boast, I should not be a fool; for I should say the truth; but I forbear, lest any one should think of me above what he seeth me to be, or what he heareth from me.

7 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.

And that I might not be too much lifted up by the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet me, that I might not be too much lifted up.

8 For this I thrice besought the Lord that it might depart from me.

In respect to this I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me;

9 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.

and he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may abide upon me.

10 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.

Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then am I strong.

11 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.

I have become a fool; it is ye that compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the very foremost apostles, though I am nothing.

12 The signs indeed of the apostle were wrought among you in all endurance, signs, and wonders, and works of power.

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you with all endurance, by signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

13 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.

For what is there in which ye were at disadvantage when compared with other churches, except that I myself was not a charge to you? Forgive me this wrong.

14 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.

Behold, I am ready to come to you this third time, and I will not be a charge 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 Now I shall most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your souls, if even in abundantly loving you I should be less loved.

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more I love you, the less I am loved.

16 But be it so. I did not burden you, but being crafty I took you by guile.

But be it so; I at least was not a charge to you; but yet, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

17 Did I make gain of you by any of those whom I have sent to you?

Did I make gain of you by any of those whom I have sent to you?

18 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?

I urged Titus to go to you, and with him I sent the brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

19 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.

Have ye been thinking this long time that we are defending ourselves to you? It is before God in Christ that we are speaking; but all things, beloved, for your edification.

20 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;

For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and lest I too shall be found by you such as ye would not; lest there be wranglings, envying, wraths, rivalries, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;

21 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.

and lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many of those who have sinned already, and did not repent of the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, which they committed.