| NET Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. | 1Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions and revelations of the Lord. |
| 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. | 2I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don't know; God knows. |
| 3And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) | 3I know that this man--whether in the body or out of the body I don't know; God knows-- |
| 4was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak. | 4was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak. |
| 5On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. | 5I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses. |
| 6For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, | 6For if I want to boast, I wouldn't be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, |
| 7even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me--so that I would not become arrogant. | 7especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. |
| 8I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. | 8Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. |
| 9But he said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. | 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. |
| 10Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. | 10So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. |
| 11I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. | 11I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. |
| 12Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds. | 12The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles. |
| 13For how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice! | 13So in what way are you worse off than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me for this wrong! |
| 14Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. | 14Look, I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children. |
| 15Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less? | 15I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? |
| 16But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit! | 16Now granted, I did not burden you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit! |
| 17I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I? | 17Did I take advantage of you by any of those I sent you? |
| 18I urged Titus to visit you and I sent our brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way? | 18I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus didn't take advantage of you, did he? Didn't we walk in the same spirit and in the same footsteps? |
| 19Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up. | 19Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up. |
| 20For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. | 20For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and you may not find me to be what you want. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. |
| 21I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced. | 21I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they practiced. |
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