| Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions and revelations of the Lord. | 1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. |
| 2I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don't know; God knows. | 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows. |
| 3I know that this man--whether in the body or out of the body I don't know; God knows-- | 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows— |
| 4was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak. | 4was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell. |
| 5I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses. | 5I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses. |
| 6For if I want to boast, I wouldn't be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, | 6Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me, |
| 7especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. | 7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. |
| 8Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. | 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. |
| 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. | 9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. |
| 10So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. | 10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. |
| 11I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. | 11I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. |
| 12The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles. | 12The true marks of an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance. |
| 13So in what way are you worse off than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me for this wrong! | 13In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! |
| 14Look, I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children. | 14See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. |
| 15I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? | 15And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less? |
| 16Now granted, I did not burden you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit! | 16Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery. |
| 17Did I take advantage of you by any of those I sent you? | 17Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you? |
| 18I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus didn't take advantage of you, did he? Didn't we walk in the same spirit and in the same footsteps? | 18I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps? |
| 19Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up. | 19Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up. |
| 20For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and you may not find me to be what you want. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. | 20For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. |
| 21I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they practiced. | 21I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery. |
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