2 Corinthians 12
1 If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed), but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
I must boast, but nothing is gained by it. But I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up to the third heaven.
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago who—whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know, God knows—was caught up into the third heaven.
3 And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth),
And I know that this man—whether in the body, or out of the body, I do not know, God knows—
4 That he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words, which it is not granted to man to utter.
was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred for anyone to say.
5 For such an one I will glory; but for myself I will glory nothing, but in my infirmities.
On behalf of such a person I will boast. But on behalf of myself I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.
6 For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me.
If I should choose to boast, I will not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I will keep from boasting, so that no one will think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from me.
7 And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.
To keep me from boasting because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger from Satan to afflict me—so I would not become overly proud.
8 For which thing thrice I besought the Lord, that it might depart from me.
Three times I begged the Lord about this, for him to take it away from me.
9 And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I would much rather boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ might reside on me.
10 For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful.
Therefore I am content for Christ's sake in weaknesses, in insults, in troubles, in persecutions and distressing situations. For whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I am become foolish: you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you: for I have no way come short of them that are above measure apostles, although I be nothing.
I have become a fool! You forced me to this, for I should have been praised by you. For I was not at all inferior to the so-called super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
12 Yet the signs of my apostleship have been wrought on you, in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
The true signs of an apostle were performed among you with complete patience, signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
13 For what is there that you have had less than the other churches, but that I myself was not burthensome to you? Pardon me this injury.
For how were you less important than the rest of the churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me for this wrong!
14 Behold now the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burthensome unto you. For I seek not the things that are yours, but you. For neither ought the children to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Look! I am ready to come to you a third time. I will not be a burden to you, for I do not want what is yours. I want you. For children should not save up for the parents. Instead, the parents should save up for the children.
15 But I most gladly will spend and be spent myself for your souls; although loving you more, I be loved less.
I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
16 But be it so: I did not burthen you: but being crafty, I caught you by guile.
But as it is, I did not burden you. But, since I am so crafty, I am the one who caught you by deceit.
17 Did I overreach you by any of them whom I sent to you?
Did I take advantage of you by anyone I sent to you?
18 I desired Titus, and I sent with him a brother. Did Titus overreach you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? did we not in the same steps?
I urged Titus to go to you, and I sent the other brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same way? Did we not walk in the same steps?
19 Of old, think you that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ; but all things, my dearly beloved, for your edification.
Do you think all of this time we have been defending ourselves to you? In the sight of God, we have in Christ been saying everything for your strengthening.
20 For I fear lest perhaps when I come I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you such as you would not. Lest perhaps contentions, envyings, animosities, dissensions, detractions, whisperings, swellings, seditions, be among you.
For I fear that when I come I may not find you as I wish. I fear that you might not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, rivalries, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
21 Lest again, when I come, God humble me among you: and I mourn many of them that sinned before, and have not done penance for the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, that they have committed.
I fear that when I come back, my God might humble me before you. I fear that I might be grieved by many of those who have sinned before now, and who did not repent of the impurity and sexual immorality and lustful indulgence that they practiced.
