| New American Standard Bible 1995 | International Standard Version |
| 1Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. | 1I must boast, although it does not do any good. Let's talk about visions and revelations from the Lord. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 3And I know how such a man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows-- | 3I know that this man—whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows— |
| 4was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. | 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. |
| 5On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. | 5I will boast about this man, but as for myself I will boast only about my weaknesses. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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! | 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. |
| 8Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. | 8I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 12The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. | 12The signs of an apostle were performed among you with utmost patience—signs, wonders, and powerful actions. |
| 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! | 13How were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I did not bother you for help? Forgive me for this wrong! |
| 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. | 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. |
| 15I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? | 15I will be very glad to spend my money and myself for you. Do you love me less because I love you so much? |
| 16But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. | 16Granting that I have not been a burden to you, was I a clever schemer who trapped you by some trick? |
| 17Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? | 17I did not take advantage of you through any of the men I sent you, did I? |
| 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? | 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? |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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; | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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