2 Corinthians 12

1 To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the LORD.

As it is necessary for me to take glory to myself, though it is not a good thing, I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I have known a man in Christ, fourteen years ago—whether in the body I have not known, whether out of the body I have not known, God has known—such a one being snatched up to the third heaven;

I have knowledge of a man in Christ, fourteen years back (if he was in the body, or out of the body, I am not able to say, but God only), who was taken up to the third heaven.

3 and I have known such a man—whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God has known—

And I have knowledge of such a man (if he was in the body, or out of the body, I am not able to say, but God only),

4 that he was snatched up to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for man to speak.

How he was taken up into Paradise, and words came to his ears which may not be said, and which man is not able to say.

5 Of such a one I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses,

On account of such a one I will have glory: for myself I will take no glory, but only in my feeble body.

6 for if I may wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will say truth; but I refrain, lest in regard to me anyone may think anything above what he sees me, or hears anything of me;

For if I had a desire to take credit to myself, it would not be foolish, for I would be saying what is true: but I will not, for fear that I might seem to any man more than he sees me to be, or has word from me that I am.

7 and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted too much, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, that he might batter me, that I might not be exalted too much.

And because the revelations were so very great, in order that I might not be overmuch lifted up, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, one sent from Satan to give me pain.

8 I called on the LORD three times concerning this thing, that it might depart from me,

And about this thing I made request to the Lord three times that it might be taken away from me.

9 and He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness”; most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:

And he said to me, My grace is enough for you, for my power is made complete in what is feeble. Most gladly, then, will I take pride in my feeble body, so that the power of Christ may be on me.

10 for this reason I am well pleased in weaknesses, in damages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses—for Christ; for whenever I may be weak, then I am powerful;

So I take pleasure in being feeble, in unkind words, in needs, in cruel attacks, in troubles, on account of Christ: for when I am feeble, then am I strong.

11 I have become a fool—boasting; you compelled me; for I ought to have been commended by you, for I was behind the very chiefest apostles in nothing—even if I am nothing.

I have been forced by you to become foolish, though it was right for my praise to have come from you: for in no way was I less than the chief of the Apostles, though I am nothing.

12 The signs, indeed, of the apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds,

Truly the signs of an Apostle were done among you in quiet strength, with wonders and acts of power.

13 for what is there in which you were inferior to the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!

For what is there in which you were made less than the other churches, but in the one thing that I was not a trouble to you? Let me have forgiveness for this wrong.

14 Behold, a third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, 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,

This is now the third time that I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a trouble to you: my desire is for you, not for your property: for it is not the children's business to make store for their fathers, but the fathers for the children.

15 and I will most gladly spend and be entirely spent for your souls, even if, loving you more abundantly, I am loved less.

And I will gladly give all I have for your souls. If I have the more love for you, am I to be loved the less?

16 And be it [so], I did not burden you, but being crafty, I took you with guile;

But let it be so, that I was not a trouble to you myself; but (someone may say) being false, I took you with deceit.

17 anyone of those whom I have sent to you—did I take advantage of you by him?

Did I make a profit out of you by any of those whom I sent to you?

18 I begged Titus, and sent with [him] the brother; did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same Spirit? Did we not [walk] in the same steps?

I gave orders to Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus make any profit out of you? were we not guided by the same Spirit, in the same ways?

19 Again, [do] you think that we are making defense to you? We speak before God in Christ; and all things, beloved, [are] for your up-building,

It may seem to you that all this time we have been attempting to put ourselves in the right; but we are saying these things before God in Christ. For all things, dear brothers, are for your profit.

20 for I fear lest, having come, I may not find you such as I wish, and I may be found by you such as you do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, slanders, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections,

For I have a fear that, when I come, you may not be answering to my desire, and that I may not be answering to yours; that there may be fighting, hate, angry feeling, divisions, evil talk about others, secrets, thoughts of pride, outbursts against authority;

21 lest again having come, my God may humble me in regard to you, and I may mourn many of those having sinned before, and having not changed their mind concerning the uncleanness, and whoredom, and licentiousness, that they practiced.

And that when I come again, my God may put me to shame among you, and I may have grief for those who have done wrong before and have had no regret for their unclean ways, and for the evil desires of the flesh to which they have given way.