2 Corinthians 12 NLT ISV Parallel

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◄ 2 Corinthians 12 ►

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1This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord.

1I must boast, although it does not do any good. Let's talk about visions and revelations from the Lord.

2I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only 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.

3Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know

3I know that this man—whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows—

4that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.

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.

5That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses.

5I will boast about this man, but as for myself I will boast only about my weaknesses.

6If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message,

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.

7even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

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 different times I begged the Lord to take it away.

8I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me,

9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through 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.

10That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

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.

11You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all.

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.

12When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.

12The signs of an apostle were performed among you with utmost patience—signs, wonders, and powerful actions.

13The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for 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!

14Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide 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 gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.

15I will be very glad to spend my money and myself for you. Do you love me less because I love you so much?

16Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery.

16Granting that I have not been a burden to you, was I a clever schemer who trapped you by some trick?

17But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you?

17I did not take advantage of you through any of the men I sent you, did I?

18When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way.

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?

19Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you.

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 am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.

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.

21Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.

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.

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