2 Corinthians 12 Parallel Bible Translations

2 Corinthians 12 ▼
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1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on 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. Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
2 I 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 it I do not know, but God knows. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 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. I 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. I 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.
3 And I know that this man— whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows— And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—
4 was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell. and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.
5 I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding <i>my</i> weaknesses. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.
6 Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me, though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but <i>now</i> I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me <i>to be</i>, or <i>that</i> he heareth of me. For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain <i>from this,</i> so that no one will credit me with more than he sees <i>in</i> me or hears from me. Even 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,
7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 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. Because of the extraordinary <i>greatness</i> of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! or 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.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. But 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 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. And 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. But 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.
10 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 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. Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. That 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.
11 I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles, even though I am nothing. I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 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. I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was in no respect inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. I 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.
12 The TRUE marks of an apostle— signs, wonders, and miracles— were performed among you with great perseverance. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with 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. The distinguishing marks of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs, wonders, and miracles. I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.
13 In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except <i>it be</i> that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. For 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! How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 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. Here 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 <i>their</i> parents, but parents for <i>their</i> children. Now 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.
15 And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less? I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? So 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?
16 Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery. But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, devious person that I am, I took you in by deceit. Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!
17 Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you? Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? <i>Certainly</i> I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you?
18 I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps? I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps? I desired Titus, and with <i>him</i> I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? <i>walked we</i> not in the same steps? I urged Titus <i>to go,</i> 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 <i>and walk</i> in the same steps? I 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?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up. Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but <i>we do</i> all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. <i>Actually,</i> it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for building you up, beloved. Have 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.
20 For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and <i>that</i> I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest <i>there be</i> debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: For 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 <i>there will be</i> strife, jealousy, angry tempers, selfishness, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; For 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.
21 I 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 their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced. <i>And</i> lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and <i>that</i> I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed. <i>I am afraid</i> 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, sexual immorality, and indecent behavior which they have practiced. I 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.
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