| NET Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. | 1Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. |
| 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. | 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- such a man was caught up to the third heaven. |
| 3And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) | 3And I know how such a man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows-- |
| 4was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak. | 4was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. |
| 5On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. | 5On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. |
| 6For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, | 6For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. |
| 7even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me--so that I would not become arrogant. | 7Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me-- to keep me from exalting myself! |
| 8I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. | 8Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. |
| 9But he said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. | 9And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. |
| 10Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. | 10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. |
| 11I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. | 11I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. |
| 12Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds. | 12The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. |
| 13For how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice! | 13For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! |
| 14Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. | 14Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. |
| 15Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less? | 15I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? |
| 16But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit! | 16But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. |
| 17I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I? | 17Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? |
| 18I urged Titus to visit you and I sent our brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way? | 18I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps? |
| 19Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up. | 19All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved. |
| 20For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. | 20For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; |
| 21I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced. | 21I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced. |
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