2 Corinthians 12
1 Glorying must be, but it is not profitable: so I proceed to visions and revelations of our Lord.
It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast, but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 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.
I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago—whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows.
3 And I knew this same man; (but whether in a body, or out of a body, I know not; God knoweth; )
I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),
4 and he was caught up to Paradise, and heard ineffable words, which it is not permitted a man to utter.
how he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of him I will glory: but of myself I will not glory, except in my infirmities.
On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
6 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.
For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me or hears from me.
7 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.
By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.
8 Respecting this, I thrice besought my Lord, that it might depart from me.
Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
9 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.
He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my 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.
10 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.
Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 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.
I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.
12 I wrought among you the signs of the legates, with all patience; and in prodigies, and in wonders, and in mighty deeds.
Truly the signs of an apostle were worked amongst you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
13 For in what fell ye short of the other churches; except in this, that I was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this fault.
For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 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.
Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 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.
I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
16 But perhaps, though I was not burdensome to you, yet, like a cunning man, I filched from you by craftiness!
Even so, I myself didn’t burden you. But you might say that being crafty, I caught you with deception.
17 Was it by the hand of some other person whom I sent to you, that I pilfered from you?
Did I take advantage of you by anyone of those whom I have sent to you?
18 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?
I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?
19 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.
Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
20 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;
For I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that perhaps there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,
21 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.
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, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they committed.
