2 Corinthians 12
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1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.1It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come 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 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.
3And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.4How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.5Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
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,6For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of 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.7And 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.
8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from 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.9And 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.
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.10Therefore 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.
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 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.
12I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.12Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!13For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to 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.14Behold, 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.
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?15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
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 be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
17Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you?17Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto 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 desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in 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.19Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
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, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
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.21And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
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King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
2 Corinthians 11
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