| New International Version | English Standard Version |
| 1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. | 1I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, 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 was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. |
| 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 that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of 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. | 4and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. |
| 5I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. | 5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of 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, | 6though 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. |
| 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. | 7So 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. |
| 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. | 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should 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. | 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon 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. | 10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. 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 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. |
| 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 utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. |
| 13How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! | 13For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden 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 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. |
| 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 spent 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 granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. |
| 17Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? | 17Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? |
| 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 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? |
| 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. | 19Have 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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