2 Corinthians 12
1 It is necessary to boast, though it is not profitable. But I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
Glorying must be, but it is not profitable: so I proceed to visions and revelations of our Lord.
2 I know a man in Meshikha, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or whether out of the body, I do not know; God knows), such a one was caught up into the third heaven.
I knew a man in the Messiah fourteen years ago, (but whether in a body, or whether out of a body, I know not; God knoweth: ) who was caught up to the third region of heaven.
3 I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I do not know; God knows),
And I knew this same man; (but whether in a body, or out of a body, I know not; God knoweth; )
4 how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a human to utter.
and he was caught up to Paradise, and heard ineffable words, which it is not permitted a man to utter.
5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
Of him I will glory: but of myself I will not glory, except in my infirmities.
6 For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me.
Yet if I were disposed to glory, I should not be without reason; for I declare the truth. But I refrain, lest any one should think of me, beyond what he seeth in me and heareth from me.
7 And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, therefore, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satana to pound away at me, to keep me from exalting myself.
And, that I might not be uplifted by the excellency of the revelations, there was imparted to me a thorn in my flesh, the angel of Satan, to buffet me, that I might not be uplifted.
8 Concerning this thing, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
Respecting this, I thrice besought my Lord, that it might depart from me.
9 He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Meshikha may rest on me.
And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my power is perfected in weakness. Gladly, therefore, will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of the Messiah may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Meshikha's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
Therefore I have pleasure in infirmities, in reproach, in afflictions, in persecutions, in distresses, which are for the Messiah's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I have become foolish. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.
Behold, I have become foolish in my glorying, for ye compelled me. For ye ought to bear witness for me; because I was inferior in nothing to those legates who most excel, although I was nothing.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
I wrought among you the signs of the legates, with all patience; and in prodigies, and in wonders, and in mighty deeds.
13 For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the congregations, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.
For in what fell ye short of the other churches; except in this, that I was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this fault.
14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not what is yours, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not burden you; for I seek not yours, but you: for children ought not to lay up treasures for the parents, but the parents for their children.
15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
And cheerfully will I both pay my expenses, and also give myself for your souls; although the more I love you, the less ye love me.
16 But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.
But perhaps, though I was not burdensome to you, yet, like a cunning man, I filched from you by craftiness!
17 Did I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you?
Was it by the hand of some other person whom I sent to you, that I pilfered from you?
18 I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did not we walk in the same spirit? Did not we walk in the same steps?
I requested Titus, and with him I sent the brethren: did Titus pilfer any thing from you? Did we not walk in one spirit, and in the same steps?
19 Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves before you? In the sight of God we speak in Meshikha; and all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
Do ye again suppose, that we would apologize to you? Before God, in the Messiah we speak: and all these things, my beloved, are for the sake of your edification.
20 For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you do not desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots;
For I fear, lest I should come to you and not find you such as I would wish; and lest I also should be found by you, such as ye would not wish; lest there should be contention, and envying, and anger, and obstinacy, and slandering, and murmuring, and insolence, and commotion;
21 that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.
lest, when I come to you, my God should humble me; and I should mourn over many, who have sinned, and have not repented of the impurity, the whoredom, and the lasciviousness, which they have committed.
