2 Corinthians 12

1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of 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 knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows; ) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

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 knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows; )

And I know that this man (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows)

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

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

5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

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

6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he sees me to be, or that he hears of 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 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

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 For this thing I besought the Lord three times, that it might depart from me.

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

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon 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 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I 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 am become a fool in glorying; all of you have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be 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 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

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

13 For what is it wherein all of you were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome 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 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's 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 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 I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

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 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

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 make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

Did I take advantage of you through any of the men I sent to you?

18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? (pneuma) walked we not in the same steps?

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 Again, think all of you that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

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 fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as all of you would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

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 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall mourn for many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

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.