| International Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1I must boast, although it does not do any good. Let's talk about visions and revelations from 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 who belongs to the Messiah. Fourteen years ago—whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows—that man was snatched away to the third heaven. | 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 his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows— | 3Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know |
| 4was snatched away to Paradise and heard things that cannot be expressed in words, things that no human being has a right even to mention. | 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 man, but as for myself I will boast only about my weaknesses. | 5That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. |
| 6However, if I did want to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I am not going to do it in order to keep anyone from thinking more of me than what he sees and hears about 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, |
| 7To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn was given to me and placed in my body. It was Satan's messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become 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. |
| 8I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me, | 8Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. |
| 9but he has told me, "My grace is all you need, because my power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most happily boast about my weaknesses, so that the Messiah's power may rest on 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. |
| 10That is why I take such pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for the Messiah's sake, 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 become a fool. You forced me to be one. Really, I should have been commended by you, for I am not in any way inferior to your "super-apostles," even if 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 among you with utmost patience—signs, wonders, and powerful actions. | 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. |
| 13How were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I did not bother you for help? 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! |
| 14Now I'm ready to visit you for a third time, and I will not bother you for help. I do not want your things, but rather you yourselves. Children should not have to support their parents, but parents 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 be very glad to spend my money and myself for you. Do you love me less because I love you so much? | 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. |
| 16Granting that I have not been a burden to you, was I a clever schemer who trapped you by some trick? | 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. |
| 17I did not take advantage of you through any of the men I sent you, did I? | 17But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you? |
| 18I encouraged Titus to visit you, and I sent along with him the brother you know so well. Titus didn't take advantage of you, did he? We conducted ourselves with the same spirit, didn't we? We took the very same steps, didn't we? | 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 are trying to defend ourselves before you? We are speaking before God in the authority of the Messiah, and everything, dear friends, is meant to build 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. |
| 20I am afraid that I may come and somehow find you not as I want to find you, and that you may find me not as you want to find me. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct. | 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 am afraid that when I come my God may again humble me before you and that I may have to grieve over many who formerly lived in sin and have not repented of their impurity, sexual immorality, and promiscuity that they once 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 Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | 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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