| English Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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— | 3And I know how such a man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows-- |
| 4and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. | 4was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. |
| 5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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! |
| 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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 a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. | 12The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. |
| 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! | 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! |
| 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. | 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 your souls. 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? |
| 16But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you 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 through any of those whom I sent to 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 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? | 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 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. | 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 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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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