| English Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 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. | 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 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 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. |
| 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— | 3Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know |
| 4and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. | 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. |
| 5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, 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. |
| 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. | 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, |
| 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. | 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. |
| 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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 a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. | 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. |
| 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! | 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! |
| 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. | 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 your souls. 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. |
| 16But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you 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 through any of those whom I sent to you? | 17But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you? |
| 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? | 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 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. | 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 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 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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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