2 Corinthians, 12

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

1. It is useless to boast; but if I have to, I will go on to some visions and revelations of the Lord.

2. 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 knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

2. I know a certain Christian: fourteen years ago he was taken up to the third heaven.

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

3. Whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know, God knows. But I know that this man, whether in the body or out of the body - I do not know, God knows -

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

4. was taken up to Paradise where he heard words that cannot be told: things which humans cannot express.

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

5. Of that man I can indeed boast, but of myself I will not boast except of my weaknesses.

6. 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 seeth me [to be], or [that] he heareth of me.

6. If I wanted to boast, it would not be foolish of me, for I would speak the truth.

7. 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.

7. However, I better give up lest somebody think more of me than what is seen in me or heard from me. Lest I become proud after so many and extraordinary revelations, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a true messenger of Satan, to slap me in the face.

8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

8. Three times I prayed to the Lord that it leave me,

9. 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 rest upon me.

9. but he answered, "My grace is enough for you; my great strength is revealed in weakness." Gladly, then, will I boast of my weakness that the strength of Christ may be mine.

10. 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.

10. So I rejoice when I suffer infirmities, humiliations, want, persecutions: all for Christ! For when I am weak, then I am strong.

11. I am become a fool in glorying; ye 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.

11. I have acted as a fool but you forced me. You should have been the ones commending me. Yet I do not feel outdone by those super-apostles,

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

12. even though I am nothing. All the signs of a true apostle are found in me: patience in all trials, signs, miracles and wonders.

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

13. Now, in what way were you not treated like the rest of the churches? Only in this: I was not a burden to you - forgive me for this offense!

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

14. For the third time I plan to visit you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I am not interested in what you have but only in you. Children should not have to collect money for their parents, but the parents for their children.

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

15. As for me, I am ready to spend whatever I have and even my whole self for all of you. If I love you so much, am I to be loved less?

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

16. Well, I was not a burden to you, but was it not a trick to deceive you? Tell me:

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

17. Did I take money from you through any of my messengers?

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

18. I asked Titus to go to you and I sent another brother with him. But did Titus take money from you? Have we not both acted in the same spirit?

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

19. Perhaps you think that we are again apologizing; but no: we speak in Christ and before God, and I do this for you, dear friends, to build you up.

20. 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 ye would not: lest [there be] debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

20. I fear that if I go and see you, I might not find you as I would wish, and you in turn, might not find me to your liking. I might see rivalries, envy, grudges, disputes, slanders, gossip, conceit, disorder.

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

21. Let it not be that in coming again to you, God humble me because of you and I have to grieve over so many of you who live in sin, on seeing that they have not yet given up an impure way of living, their wicked conduct and the vices they formerly practiced.