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.

IT is not expedient doubtless for me to boast. I will yet come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I know a man in Messiah, 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 Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body I know not, or whether out of the body I know not: God knoweth; ) such a one was caught up unto the third heavens.

3 I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I do not know; God knows),

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body or out of the 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.

that he was caught up into paradise, and heard ineffable words, which it is not permitted to man to speak.

5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

Of such a one will I boast; but in myself will I not boast, save 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.

For though I should be disposed to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I shall speak truth: but I desist, lest any man think of me above what he seeth me to be, or what he heareth of 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 Satan to pound away at me, to keep me from exalting myself.

And that I might not be lifted up above measure by the transcendent greatness of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the angel Satan, to buffet me, that I might not be lifted up above measure.

8 Concerning this thing, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

For this thrice I besought the Lord, that he 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 Messiah may rest on me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may fix its residence in me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Messiah's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

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.

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.

Have I become a fool in boasting? ye have compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing have I been inferior to the very chief apostles, though I be nothing.

12 Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.

The signs indeed of an apostle have been wrought among you in all patience, in miracles, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

13 For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the churches, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.

For what is there wherein ye have been inferior to the other churches, except that I have not been burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.

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.

Lo! I hold myself ready the third time to come unto you, and I will not burden you; for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up treasure for their parents, but the parents for the 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 I will most cheerfully spend and be spent for your souls, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

16 But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.

But admit it, I was not burdensome to you: but being crafty, I caught you with guile.

17 Did I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you?

Did I make a gain of you by any one individual whom I sent unto 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 entreated Titus to go to you, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make any advantage of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not 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 Messiah; and all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

Think ye that we are again making an apology to you? In the sight of God speak we in Christ: but all things, beloved, for 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 am afraid that when I come I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found of you such as ye would not: lest haply there be contentions, jealousies, animosities, quarrels, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

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.

and lest when I come to you again, my God should bow me down, and I should lament over many who have sinned before, and have not repented of the impurities, and whoredom, and lasciviousness which they have committed.