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| [1]It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. |
[1]To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. |
| [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 have known a man in Christ, fourteen years ago -- whether in the body I have not known, whether out of the body I have not known, God hath known -- such an one being caught away unto the third heaven; |
| [3]And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) |
[3]and I have known such a man -- whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God hath known, -- |
| [4]How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. |
[4]that he was caught away to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for man to speak. |
| [5]Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. |
[5]Of such an one I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities, |
| [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 may wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for truth I will say; but I forebear, lest any one in regard to me may think anything above what he doth see me, or doth hear anything of me; |
| [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]and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch. |
| [8]For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. |
[8]Concerning this thing thrice the Lord did I call upon, that it might depart from 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]and He said to me, `Sufficient for thee is My grace, for My power in infirmity is perfected;' most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may rest on me: |
| [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]wherefore I am well pleased in infirmities, in damages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses -- for Christ; for whenever I am infirm, then I am powerful; |
| [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 -- boasting; ye -- ye did compel me; for I ought by you to have been commended, for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles -- even if I am nothing. |
| [12]Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. |
[12]The signs, indeed, of the apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds, |
| [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]for what is there in which ye were inferior to the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this injustice! |
| [14]Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. |
[14]Lo, a third time I am ready to come unto you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I seek not yours, but you, for the children ought not for the parents to lay up, but the parents for the children, |
| [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]and I most gladly will spend and be entirely spent for your souls, even if, more abundantly loving you, less I am loved. |
| [16]But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. |
[16]And be it [so], I -- I did not burden you, but being crafty, with guile I did take you; |
| [17]Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? |
[17]any one of those whom I have sent unto you -- by him did I take advantage of you? |
| [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 entreated Titus, and did send with [him] the brother; did Titus take advantage of you? in the same spirit did we not walk? -- did we not in the same steps? |
| [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]Again, think ye that to you we are making defence? before God in Christ do we speak; and the all things, beloved, [are] for your up-building, |
| [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 lest, having come, not such as I wish I may find you, and I -- I may be found by you such as ye do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, evil-speakings, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections, |
| [21]And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed. |
[21]lest again having come, my God may humble me in regard to you, and I may bewail many of those having sinned before, and not having reformed concerning the uncleanness, and whoredom, and lasciviousness, that they did practise. |