| Christian Standard Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions and revelations of the Lord. | 1Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. |
| 2I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don't know; God knows. | 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- such a man was caught up to the third heaven. |
| 3I know that this man--whether in the body or out of the body I don't know; God knows-- | 3And I know how such a man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows-- |
| 4was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak. | 4was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. |
| 5I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses. | 5On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. |
| 6For if I want to boast, I wouldn't be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, | 6For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. |
| 7especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. | 7Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me-- to keep me from exalting myself! |
| 8Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. | 8Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. |
| 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. | 9And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. |
| 10So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. | 10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. |
| 11I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. | 11I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. |
| 12The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles. | 12The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. |
| 13So in what way are you worse off than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me for this wrong! | 13For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! |
| 14Look, I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children. | 14Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. |
| 15I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? | 15I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? |
| 16Now granted, I did not burden you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit! | 16But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. |
| 17Did I take advantage of you by any of those I sent you? | 17Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? |
| 18I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus didn't take advantage of you, did he? Didn't we walk in the same spirit and in the same footsteps? | 18I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps? |
| 19Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up. | 19All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved. |
| 20For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and you may not find me to be what you want. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. | 20For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; |
| 21I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they practiced. | 21I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced. |
| The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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