| NET Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 3And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, 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— |
| 4was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak. | 4and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. |
| 5On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. | 5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, 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, | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 8I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. | 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 12Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds. | 12The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. |
| 13For how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice! | 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! |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 your souls. 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! | 16But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. |
| 17I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I? | 17Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to 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 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? |
| 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 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 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. |
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