2 Corinthians 12 Parallel Bible Translations

2 Corinthians 12 ▼
swipe to see more →
LAMSA
Lamsa Bible
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
+Add
1 BOASTING is proper, but there is no advantage in it, and I prefer to relate the visions and revelations of our 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 more than fourteen years ago, but whether I knew him in the body or without the body, I do not know: God knows; this very one 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 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 still know this man, but whether in the body or whether without the body, I cannot tell; 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 How that he was caught up to paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 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 Of such a person, I will boast; but of myself, I will not boast, 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— I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.
6 But even if I would desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will tell the truth: but now I refrain, lest any one should think more of me than what he sees me to be and what he 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 lest I should be exalted through the abundance of the revelations, there was delivered to me a thorn in my flesh, the angel of Satan to buffet me, lest I should 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 besought my LORD concerning this thing, that it might 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 you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore I would rather boast in my infirmities 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 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 am content with infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, and imprisonments for Christ’s sake: for when I am physically weak, then I am mentally 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. 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 Behold, I am foolish to boast but you have forced me: for you ought to have testified concerning me: for in no way am I less than those apostles who are highly honored, 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 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 miracles which the apostles have wrought I have wrought among you also in all patience, in signs, in wonders, and mighty deeds. 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 do you lack that other churches have, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this “fault”! 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, this is the third time I am prepared to come to you; and I will not burden you; for I seek nothing from you, but yourselves: for children are not under obligation to lay up treasure 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 I will gladly pay my expenses, and I will even give myself for the sake of your souls; though the more I love you, the less you love me. 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 be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless as a shrewd man, 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 Why? Did I extort anything from you by any of the men whom I sent to you? 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 requested Titus to visit you, and I sent brethren with him. Did Titus extort anything from you? Did we not walk in the same spirit, and did we not walk in the same steps? 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 Why? Do you still think we are apologizing? No! We speak before God in Christ: and we do all these things, my beloved, 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 when I come to you, I shall not find you such as I wish to find you, and that you also will not find me as you wish to find me: lest there be controversies, envyings, angers, stubbornness, accusations, slanderings, boastings and disorders. 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 Perhaps when I come to you, my God will humble me, and I will mourn over many who have sinned, and who have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and lasciviousness which they have committed. 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.
Previous chapter
Top of Page
Top of Page