| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to 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 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 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 that this 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 things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person 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 an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. | 5That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about 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, | 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, |
| 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. | 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 asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. | 8Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 12Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds. | 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 how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice! | 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! |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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 have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, 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. |
| 17I have not taken advantage of you through anyone 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 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? | 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 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. | 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 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 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 will grieve for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that 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. |
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