| Christian Standard Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions and revelations of the Lord. | 1This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from 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 was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. |
| 3I know that this man--whether in the body or out of the body I don't know; God knows-- | 3Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know |
| 4was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak. | 4that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell. |
| 5I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses. | 5That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about 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, | 6If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, |
| 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. | 7even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. |
| 8Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. | 8Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. |
| 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. | 9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through 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. | 10That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians |
| 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. | 11You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all. |
| 12The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles. | 12When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you. |
| 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! | 13The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for 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. | 14Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide 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 gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me. |
| 16Now granted, I did not burden you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit! | 16Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery. |
| 17Did I take advantage of you by any of those I sent you? | 17But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you? |
| 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? | 18When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way. |
| 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. | 19Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you. |
| 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 when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. |
| 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. | 21Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure. |
| The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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