2 Corinthians 12

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

To boast, indeed, is not profitable to me; yet I will proceed 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 hath known — such an one being caught away unto the third heaven;

I knew a man in Christ fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I do not know; God knows: ) such a one suddenly conveyed away 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 hath known, —

Indeed, I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I do not know: )

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

that he was suddenly conveyed away into paradise, and heard unspeakable things, which are not lawful for man to utter.

5 Of such an one I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities,

Concerning such a one I will boast; but concerning myself I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.

6 for if I may wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for truth I will say; but I forebear, lest any one in regard to me may think anything above what he doth see me, or doth hear anything of me;

Yet if I should incline to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any one should think concerning me, above what he sees me to be, or what he hears from me.

7 and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch.

Indeed, that I might not be exalted above measure by the transcendency of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 Concerning this thing thrice the Lord did I call upon, that it might depart from me,

Concerning this, I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 and He said to me, 'Sufficient for thee is My grace, for My power in infirmity is perfected;' most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:

But he said to me, My favor is sufficient for you, besides, my power is perfected in weakness: most gladly, therefore, I will boast rather of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell upon me.

10 wherefore I am well pleased in infirmities, in damages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses — for Christ; for whenever I am infirm, then I am powerful;

Wherefore, I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with necessities, with persecutions, with distresses, for Christ's sake; because when I am weak, then I am strong.

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

Have I become a fool--? You have constrained me to it; for I ought to have been commended by you, because I am in nothing behind the very greatest Apostles, though I am nothing.

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

Truly the signs of an Apostle were fully wrought among you with all patience, by signs and wonders, and powers.

13 for what is there in which ye 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 the thing in which you were inferior to other congregations, unless that I myself have not been burdensome to you? Forgive me this injury.

14 Lo, a third time I am ready to come unto you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I seek not yours, but you, for the children ought not for the parents to lay up, but the parents for the children,

Behold, a third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be burdensome to you; because I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

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

Yes, I most gladly will spend and be spent for the sake of your souls; even though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

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

Be it so, then, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile!

17 any one of those whom I have sent unto you — by him did I take advantage of you?

With respect to any one of them I sent to you, did I by him make gain of you?

18 I entreated Titus, and did send with [him] the brother; did Titus take advantage of you? in the same spirit did we not walk? — did we not in the same steps?

I besought Titus to go to you; and with him I sent a brother: did Titus make any gain of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

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

Again, do you think that we apologize to you? In the presence of God we speak in Christ, that all these things, beloved, are done for your edification.

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

Yet I am afraid, lest, perhaps, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish: and that I shall be found by you, such as you do not wish: --lest, perhaps, there be among you strifes, emulations, wraths, brawlings, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults.

21 lest again having come, my God may humble me in regard to you, and I may bewail many of those having sinned before, and not having reformed concerning the uncleanness, and whoredom, and lasciviousness, that they did practise.

And lest, when I come again, my God may humble me among you; and I shall bewail many, who have formerly sinned, and have not reformed from the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, which they have committed.