2 Corinthians 12:7
Good News Translation
But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud.

New Revised Standard Version
even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.

Contemporary English Version
Of course, I am now referring to the wonderful things I saw. One of Satan's angels was sent to make me suffer terribly, so that I would not feel too proud.

New American Bible
because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.

lest.

2 Corinthians 10:5 And every height that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God: and bringing into captivity every understanding unto the obedience of Christ:

2 Corinthians 11:20 For you suffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take from you, if a man be lifted up, if a man strike you on the face.

Deuteronomy 8:14 Thy heart be lifted up, and thou remember not the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage:

Deuteronomy 17:20 And that his heart be not lifted up with pride over his brethren, nor decline to the right or to the left, that he and his sons may reign a long time over Israel.

2 Chronicles 26:16 But when he was made strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction, and he neglected the Lord his God: and going into the temple of the Lord, he had a mind to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

2 Chronicles 32:25,26,31 But he did not render again according to the benefits which he had received, for his heart was lifted up: and wrath was enkindled against him, and against Juda and Jerusalem. . . .

Daniel 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit hardened unto pride, he was put down from the throne of his kingdom, and his glory was taken away.

1 Timothy 3:6 Not a neophyte: lest, being puffed up with pride, he fall into the judgment of the devil.

the abundance.

2 Corinthians 12:1-4 If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed) but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. . . .

a thorn.

Genesis 32:25,31 And when he saw that he could not overcome him, he touched the sinew of his thigh, and forthwith it shrank. . . .

Judges 2:3 Wherefore I would not destroy them from before your face; that you may have enemies, and their gods may be your ruin.

Ezekiel 28:24 And the house of Israel shall have no more a stumblingblock of bitterness, nor a thorn causing pain on every side round about them, of them that are against them: and they shall know that I am the Lord God.

Galatians 4:13 And you know how, through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you heretofore: and your temptation in my flesh

the messenger.

Job 2:7 So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with a very grievous ulcer, from the sole of the foot even to the top of his head:

Luke 13:16 And ought not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

1 Corinthians 5:5 To deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

to buffet.

Matthew 26:67 Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him. And others struck his face with the palms of their hands,

1 Corinthians 4:11 Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no fixed abode.

Context
Paul's Thorn and God's Grace
6For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish: for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me. 7And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. 8For which thing, thrice I besought the Lord that it might depart from me.…
Cross References
Numbers 33:55
But if you will not kill the inhabitants of the land: they that remain, shall be unto you as nails in your eyes, and spears in your sides, and they shall be your adversaries in the land of your habitation.

Job 2:6
And the Lord said to Satan: Behold, he is in thy hand, but yet save his life.

Ezekiel 28:24
And the house of Israel shall have no more a stumblingblock of bitterness, nor a thorn causing pain on every side round about them, of them that are against them: and they shall know that I am the Lord God.

Hosea 2:6
Wherefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and I will stop it up with a wall, and she shall not find her paths.

Matthew 4:10
Then Jesus saith to him: Begone, Satan: for it is written: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve.

1 Corinthians 5:5
To deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:10
(For his epistles indeed, say they, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible):

2 Corinthians 12:1
If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed) but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:6
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