2 Corinthians 12 Parallel Bible Translations

2 Corinthians 12 ▼
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GODBEY
Godbey New Testament
ESV
English Standard Version
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New International Version
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1 It behooves me to glory, indeed it is not profitable, I will come to visions and revelations of 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. 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 knew a man in Christ, fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I know not; whether out of the body, I know not, such a one having been caught up even to the third heaven. 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 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 knew such a man, whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not; 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 know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—
4 that he was caught up to Paradise, and heard unutterable words, which it is impossible for a man to speak. and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.
5 Concerning such a one I will glory: but concerning myself I will not glory, except in my infirmities. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.
6 For if I shall wish to glory, I will not be a fool; for I speak the truth: but I fear, lest some one may consider with reference to me above what he sees 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. 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 And that I may not be exalted by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given unto me in the flesh, the messenger of Satan that he may buffet me, in order that I may not be exalted. 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. 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 called on the Lord concerning this, that it may depart from me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most delightfully I will glory the more in my infirmities, in order that the power of Christ may abide 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. 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 Therefore I delight in infirmities, in insults, in difficulties, in persecutions, and in tight places, for Christ's sake: for when I am without strength, then I am dynamite. 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. 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: you did compel me. For I ought to be commended by you: for I am not inferior to the very chief of the apostles, if indeed 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 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 For indeed the signs of the apostleship are wrought in me in all patience, in miracles and in wonders and in dynamites. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.
13 For what is that in which you are inferior to other churches, except that I did not burden 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! How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not spare: for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up treasures for the parents, but the parents for the 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. 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 But I will most delightfully spend and be spent for your souls. If the more abundantly I love you am I loved the less? I will most gladly spend and be spent 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 But let it he so, I did not burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile. But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you 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 Which one of those whom I sent unto you, did I fleece you through him? Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you?
18 I called Titus, and sent the brother along with him: whether did Titus defraud you? did we not walk by the same Spirit? did we not in the same tracks? 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 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 For a long time you were thinking that I am apologizing to you. We speak before God in Christ; but all things, beloved, are for your edification. 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. 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 fear lest, having come, I may not find you as I wish, and may not be found by you as you wish; lest perhaps strife, jealousy, animosities, selfseekings, calumniations, eavesdroppings, inflations, outfallings, are among you; 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 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 lest, I again having come, my God will humble me before you, and I will mourn over many of those having previously committed sins, and not having repented over the uncleanness and the fornication and debauchery which they have done. 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 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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