1 I have to boast. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations given me by the Lord.
1 (A)Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and (B)revelations (a)of the Lord.
1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
1 Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions(A) and revelations(B) of the Lord.
1 I must boast, although it does not do any good. Let's talk about visions and revelations from the Lord.
2 I know of a man fourteen years ago??hether in the body or out of it, I do not know, God knows??eing actually caught up to the third heaven.
2 I know a man (C)in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, (D)God knows—such a man was (E)caught up to the (F)third heaven.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2 I know a man in Christ who was caught up(C) into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know, God knows.
2 I know a man who belongs to the Messiah. Fourteen years ago whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows that man was snatched away to the third heaven.
3 And I know that this man?? do not know whether it was in the body or out of it, God knows??4 was caught up into Paradise, and heard things that must not be told, which no human being can repeat.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
3 I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know, God knows—
3 I know that this man whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows
4 On this man's account I am ready to boast, but about myself I will boast only of my weaknesses.
4 was (H)caught up into (I)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
4 was caught up into paradise.(D) He heard inexpressible words, which a man is not allowed to speak.
4 was snatched away to Paradise and heard things that cannot be expressed in words, things that no human being has a right even to mention.
5 Though if I do choose to boast, I will not be such a fool, for I will only be telling the truth. But I will refrain from it, for I do not want anyone to be influenced by the wonderful character of these revelations to think more of me than is justified by my words or conduct.
5 (J)On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my (K)weaknesses.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
5 I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.
5 I will boast about this man, but as for myself I will boast only about my weaknesses.
6 So to keep me from being too much elated a bitter physical affliction was sent to me, a very messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too much elated.
6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be (L)foolish, (M)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.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
6 For if I want to boast, I will not be a fool, because I will be telling the truth.(E) But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me,
6 However, if I did want to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I am not going to do it in order to keep anyone from thinking more of me than what he sees and hears about me.
7 Three times I have prayed to the Lord about this, begging that it might leave me,
7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the (N)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a (O)thorn in the flesh, a (P)messenger of Satan to (b)torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
7 especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh(F) was given to me, a messenger(a) of Satan(G) to torment me so I would not exalt myself.
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn was given to me and placed in my body. It was Satan's messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become conceited.
8 and he said to me, "My favor is enough for you, for only where there is weakness is perfect strength developed." So I am perfectly willing to boast of all my weakness, so that the strength of Christ may shelter me.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me.
8 I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me,
9 That is why I am pleased with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties, when they are endured for Christ's sake, for it is when I am weak that I am strong.
9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for (R)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather (S)boast (c)about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power(b)(H) is perfected in weakness.”(I) Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
9 but he has told me, "My grace is all you need, because my power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most happily boast about my weaknesses, so that the Messiah's power may rest on me.
10 I have been making a fool of myself, but you forced me to do it, when you ought to have been expressing your approval of me. For I am not a bit inferior to your superfine apostles, even if I am nobody!
10 Therefore (T)I am well content with weaknesses, with (d)insults, with (U)distresses, with (V)persecutions, with (W)difficulties, (X)for Christ’s sake; for (Y)when I am weak, then I am strong.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ.(J) For when I am weak, then I am strong.(K)
10 That is why I take such pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for the Messiah's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 The signs that mark a true apostle were most patiently shown when I was among you, in signs, wonders, and marvels.
11 I have become (Z)foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for (AA)in no respect was I inferior to the (e)most eminent apostles, even though (AB)I am a nobody.
11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
11 I have become a fool; you forced it on me. I should have been endorsed by you, since I am not in any way inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.(L)
11 I have become a fool. You forced me to be one. Really, I should have been commended by you, for I am not in any way inferior to your "super-apostles," even if I am nothing.
12 For what is there in which the other churches had the better of you, except in the fact that I would not permit myself to be a burden to you? You must forgive me that wrong!
12 The (f)(AC)signs (g)of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by (h)signs and wonders and (i)miracles.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
12 The signs(M) of an apostle(N) were performed with great endurance among you—not only signs but also wonders(O) and miracles.(P)
12 The signs of an apostle were performed among you with utmost patience signs, wonders, and powerful actions.
13 Here it is the third time that I have been ready to come to see you, and I do not intend to be a burden to you now; for it is not your money but yourselves that I want; for children are not expected to lay up money for their parents, but parents for their children.
13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that (AD)I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me (AE)this wrong!
13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
13 So in what way were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
13 How were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I did not bother you for help? Forgive me for this wrong!
14 And I will be glad to spend all I have and all I am for your sake. Are you going to love me the less for loving you so intensely?
14 Here (AF)for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I (AG)will not be a burden to you; for I (AH)do not seek what is yours, but (AI)you; for (AJ)children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but (AK)parents for their children.
14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
14 Now I am ready to come to you this third time.(Q) I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
14 Now I'm ready to visit you for a third time, and I will not bother you for help. I do not want your things, but rather you yourselves. Children should not have to support their parents, but parents their children.
15 But granting that I did not burden you myself, I was clever about it, you say, and took you in by a trick.
15 I will (AL)most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If (AM)I love you more, am I to be loved less?
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
15 I will be very glad to spend my money and myself for you. Do you love me less because I love you so much?
16 Yet did I make anything out of you by anybody that I sent to you?
16 But be that as it may, I (AN)did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I (AO)took you in by deceit.
16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
16 Granting that I have not been a burden to you, was I a clever schemer who trapped you by some trick?
17 I asked Titus to go and I sent his brother with him. Did Titus make anything out of you? Did not he and I act in the same spirit, and take the very same steps?
17 (AP)Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?
17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
17 Did I take advantage of you by anyone I sent you?
17 I did not take advantage of you through any of the men I sent you, did I?
18 Have you been supposing all along that it is before you I have been defending myself? It is in the sight of God and as a follower of Christ that I have been speaking. But it is all to do you good, dear friends,
18 I (AQ)urged (AR)Titus to go, and I sent (AS)the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not (j)conduct ourselves (k)in the same (AT)spirit and walk (AU)in the same steps?
18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
18 I urged Titus(U) to come, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit(V) and in the same footsteps?
18 I encouraged Titus to visit you, and I sent along with him the brother you know so well. Titus didn't take advantage of you, did he? We conducted ourselves with the same spirit, didn't we? We took the very same steps, didn't we?
19 for I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I want to find you, and that you may find me not as you want to find me. I am afraid that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, bad feeling, rivalry, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder,
19 All this time (l)you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, (AV)it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and (AW)all for your upbuilding, (AX)beloved.
19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
19 You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you.(d) No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.(W)
19 Have you been thinking all along that we are trying to defend ourselves before you? We are speaking before God in the authority of the Messiah, and everything, dear friends, is meant to build you up.
20 and that when I come back my God may humiliate me before you, and I may have to mourn over many who have kept on in their old sins and have never repented of the impurity, immorality, and sensuality in which they have indulged.
20 For I am afraid that perhaps (AY)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 (AZ)strife, jealousy, (BA)angry tempers, (BB)disputes, (BC)slanders, (BD)gossip, (BE)arrogance, (BF)disturbances;
20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and I may not be found by you to be what you want;(e) there may be quarreling,(X) jealousy,(Y) outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions,(Z) slander,(AA) gossip, arrogance, and disorder.(AB)
20 I am afraid that I may come and somehow find you not as I want to find you, and that you may find me not as you want to find me. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct.
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