| 12:1 | It is necessary to go on boasting.* Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. |
| 12:2 | I 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. |
| 12:3 | And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) |
| 12:4 | was caught up into paradise* and heard things too sacred to be put into words,* things that a person* is not permitted to speak. |
| 12:5 | On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. |
| 12:6 | For 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, |
| 12:7 | even 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.* |
| 12:8 | I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. |
| 12:9 | But* 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. |
| 12:10 | Therefore 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. |
| 12:11 | I 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. |
| 12:12 | Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance* by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.* |
| 12:13 | For how* were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice! |
| 12:14 | Look, 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. |
| 12:15 | Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives!* If I love you more, am I to be loved less? |
| 12:16 | But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit! |
| 12:17 | I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I?* |
| 12:18 | I 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?* |
| 12:19 | Have 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.* |
| 12:20 | For 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. |
| 12:21 | I 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. |
2 Corinthians 12 - NET Bible [draft]
