| New American Standard Bible 1995 | New Living Translation |
| 1Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but 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-- 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 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 how such a man-- whether in the body or apart from 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 |
| 4was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted 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. |
| 5On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to 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 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. | 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, |
| 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! | 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 implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. | 8Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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’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 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. | 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 all perseverance, by 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. |
| 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! | 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 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 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 expended 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 be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that 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. |
| 17Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? | 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 did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in 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. |
| 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. | 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 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; | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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 | 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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