2 Corinthians 12

1 To be boasting, is needful, —it is not, indeed, profitable, yet will I come to visions and revelations of [the] Lord: —

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I know a man in Christ, who, fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not, God, knoweth, such a one as this, caught away, as far as the third heaven;

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows; ) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

3 And I know such a man as this, whether in the body or apart from the body, [I know not], —God, knoweth,

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows; )

4 How that he was caught away into paradise, and heard unspeakable things, which it is not allowable for a man to utter:

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, (rhema) which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 On behalf of such a one as this, will I boast, but, on behalf of myself, will I not boast, save in my weaknesses; —

Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

6 Although in fact, if I should wish to boast, I shall not be foolish, for, the truth, would I speak; but I forbear, lest anyone, unto me, should reckon above what he beholdeth me [to be], or heareth from me, —even by the exceeding greatness of the revelations.

For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he sees me to be, or that he hears of me.

7 Wherefore, lest I should be unduly lifted up, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, that he might buffet me, —lest I should be unduly lifted up.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 In this behalf, thrice, besought I, the Lord, that it might depart from me;

For this thing I besought the Lord three times, that it might depart from me.

9 And at once he said unto me—Sufficient for thee, is my favour, for, my power, in weakness, is made complete. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may spread a tent over me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Wherefore, I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, and straits, in behalf of Christ; for, as soon as I am weak, then, am powerful.

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, —ye, compelled me: —I, in fact, ought, by you, to have been commended; for, not a whit, have I come behind the exceeding overmuch apostles, —even if I am nothing:

I am become a fool in glorying; all of you have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

12 The signs, indeed, of an apostle, were wrought out among you, in all endurance, —[both] in signs, and wonders, and mighty works:

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

13 For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, —save that, I myself, would not allow myself to be a burden unto you? Forgive me this wrong!

For what is it wherein all of you were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

14 Lo! this third time, I am holding myself, in readiness, to come unto you, and I will not allow myself to be a burden; for I seek not yours, but you; —for, the children, ought not to lay up, for the parents, but the parents for the children; —

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's 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 fully spent, for your souls: —If I, exceedingly, love you, am I, the less, loved?

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

16 But let it be!—I, myself, did not burden you, —Notwithstanding, being crafty, with guile, I caught you?

But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

17 Was there, anyone of those whom I have sent unto you, through whom I have overreached you?

Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

18 I exhorted Titus, and sent with him the brother, —Did, Titus, overreach you? Was it not, in the same spirit, we walked? Was it not, in the same steps?

I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? (pneuma) walked we not in the same steps?

19 All this time, think ye, that, unto you, we are making a defence? Before God in Christ, we speak; —but all these things, beloved, for your upbuilding.

Again, think all of you that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

20 For I fear—lest, by any means, when I come, not such as I wish, should I find you, and, I, should be found by you, such as ye do not wish; —lest, by any means, [I should find] strife, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, factions, railings, whisperings, puffed up pretensions, confusions; —

For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as all of you would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

21 Lest, when I again come, my God should humble me in regard to you, —and I should grieve over many who had before sinned, and not repented of the impurity, and fornication, and wantonness which they had committed.

And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall mourn for many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.