| 12:1 | It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: |
| 12:2 | I know a man in Christ who fourteen years agowhether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knowssuch a one was caught up to the third heaven. |
| 12:3 | And I know such a manwhether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows |
| 12:4 | how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. |
| 12:5 | Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. |
| 12:6 | For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me [to be] or hears from me. |
| 12:7 | And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. |
| 12:8 | Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. |
| 12:9 | And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. |
| 12:10 | Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. |
| 12:11 | I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing. |
| 12:12 | Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. |
| 12:13 | For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong! |
| 12:14 | Now [for] the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. |
| 12:15 | And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. |
| 12:16 | But be that [as it may], I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! |
| 12:17 | Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? |
| 12:18 | I urged Titus, and sent our brother with [him]. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did [we] not [walk] in the same steps? |
| 12:19 | Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But [we do] all things, beloved, for your edification. |
| 12:20 | For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and [that] I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest [there be] contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; |
| 12:21 | lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced. |
2 Korintus 12 - New King James Version
