2 Corinthians 12 Parallel Bible Translations

2 Corinthians 12 ▼
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1 To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for 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 have known a man in Christ, fourteen years ago—whether in the body I have not known, whether out of the body I have not known, God has known—such a one being snatched 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 have known such a man—whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God has known— 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 snatched up to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for 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 Of such a one I will boast, and 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 for if I may wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will say truth; but I refrain, lest in regard to me anyone may think anything above what he sees me, or hears anything of 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 by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted too much, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, that he might batter me, that I might not be exalted too much. 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 I called on the LORD three times 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 power is perfected in weakness”; most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the 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. 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 for this reason I am well pleased in weaknesses, in damages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses—for Christ; for whenever I may be weak, then I am powerful; 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—boasting; you compelled me; for I ought to have been commended by you, for I was behind the very chiefest apostles in nothing—even if 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 signs, indeed, of the apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs, and 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 is there in which you were inferior to the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice! 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, a third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I do not seek yours, but you, for the children ought not to lay up 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 and I will most gladly spend and be entirely spent for your souls, even if, loving you more abundantly, I am loved 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 And be it [so], I did not burden you, but being crafty, I took 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 anyone of those whom I have sent to you—did I take advantage of you by 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 begged Titus, and sent with [him] the brother; did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same Spirit? 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 Again, [do] you think that we are making defense to you? We speak before God in Christ; and all things, beloved, [are] for your up-building, 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 such as I wish, and I may be found by you such as you do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, slanders, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections, 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 again having come, my God may humble me in regard to you, and I may mourn many of those having sinned before, and having not changed their mind concerning the uncleanness, and whoredom, and licentiousness, that they practiced. 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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