| English Standard Version | International Standard Version |
| 1I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. | 1I must boast, although it does not do any good. Let's talk about visions and revelations from the Lord. |
| 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. | 2I know a man who belongs to the Messiah. Fourteen years ago—whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows—that man was snatched away to the third heaven. |
| 3And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— | 3I know that this man—whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows— |
| 4and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. | 4was snatched away to Paradise and heard things that cannot be expressed in words, things that no human being has a right even to mention. |
| 5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— | 5I will boast about this man, but as for myself I will boast only about my weaknesses. |
| 6though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. | 6However, if I did want to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I am not going to do it in order to keep anyone from thinking more of me than what he sees and hears about me. |
| 7So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. | 7To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn was given to me and placed in my body. It was Satan's messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become conceited. |
| 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. | 8I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me, |
| 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. | 9but he has told me, "My grace is all you need, because my power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most happily boast about my weaknesses, so that the Messiah's power may rest on me. |
| 10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. | 10That is why I take such pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for the Messiah's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong. |
| 11I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. | 11I have become a fool. You forced me to be one. Really, I should have been commended by you, for I am not in any way inferior to your "super-apostles," even if I am nothing. |
| 12The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. | 12The signs of an apostle were performed among you with utmost patience—signs, wonders, and powerful actions. |
| 13For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! | 13How were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I did not bother you for help? Forgive me for this wrong! |
| 14Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. | 14Now I'm ready to visit you for a third time, and I will not bother you for help. I do not want your things, but rather you yourselves. Children should not have to support their parents, but parents their children. |
| 15I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? | 15I will be very glad to spend my money and myself for you. Do you love me less because I love you so much? |
| 16But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. | 16Granting that I have not been a burden to you, was I a clever schemer who trapped you by some trick? |
| 17Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? | 17I did not take advantage of you through any of the men I sent you, did I? |
| 18I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps? | 18I encouraged Titus to visit you, and I sent along with him the brother you know so well. Titus didn't take advantage of you, did he? We conducted ourselves with the same spirit, didn't we? We took the very same steps, didn't we? |
| 19Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. | 19Have you been thinking all along that we are trying to defend ourselves before you? We are speaking before God in the authority of the Messiah, and everything, dear friends, is meant to build you up. |
| 20For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. | 20I am afraid that I may come and somehow find you not as I want to find you, and that you may find me not as you want to find me. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct. |
| 21I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced. | 21I am afraid that when I come my God may again humble me before you and that I may have to grieve over many who formerly lived in sin and have not repented of their impurity, sexual immorality, and promiscuity that they once practiced. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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