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.

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

2 I know a man in Christ, 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 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;

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

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

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 snatched up to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for 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 I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses,

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 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;

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 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.

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

I called on the LORD three times concerning this thing, 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 Christ may rest on me.

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:

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

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;

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.

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.

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 the apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs, 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 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!

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, 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,

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

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

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

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

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

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 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?

19 Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves before you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ; and all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

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,

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, 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,

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 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.