2 Corinthians 12 NIV NLT Parallel

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◄ 2 Corinthians 12 ►

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1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, 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 was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.

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, but God knows--

3Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know

4was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.

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.

5I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, 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.

6Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say,

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,

7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

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.

8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

8Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.

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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on 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.

10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. 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 made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "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.

12I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, 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.

13How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never 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!

14Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, 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.

15So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me 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.

16Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!

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.

17Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you?

17But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you?

18I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

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 along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.

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 when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, 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 will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

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 International Version (NIV)

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