| New International Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. | 1Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. |
| 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. | 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- such a man was caught up to the third heaven. |
| 3And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows-- | 3And I know how such a man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows-- |
| 4was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. | 4was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. |
| 5I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. | 5On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. |
| 6Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, | 6For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. |
| 7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. | 7Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me-- to keep me from exalting myself! |
| 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. | 8Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. |
| 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. | 9And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. |
| 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. | 10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. |
| 11I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. | 11I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. |
| 12I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. | 12The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. |
| 13How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! | 13For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! |
| 14Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. | 14Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. |
| 15So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? | 15I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? |
| 16Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! | 16But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. |
| 17Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? | 17Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? |
| 18I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit? | 18I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps? |
| 19Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. | 19All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved. |
| 20For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. | 20For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; |
| 21I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged. | 21I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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