English Standard Version

Darby Bible Translation

Paul’s Visions and His Thorn

I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

1

Paul's Revelation

Well, it is not of profit to me to boast, for I will come to visions and revelations of [the] Lord.

2

I 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.

2

I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago, (whether in [the] body I know not, or out of the body I know not, God knows;) such [a one] caught up to [the] third heaven.

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And 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 —

3

And I know such a man, (whether in [the] body or out of the body I know not, God knows;)

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and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.

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that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable things said which it is not allowed to man to utter.

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On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses —

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Of such [a one] I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, unless in my weaknesses.

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though 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.

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For if I shall desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will say [the] truth; but I forbear, lest any one should think as to me above what he sees me [to be], or whatever he may hear of me.

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So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,a a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.

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Paul's Thorn and God's Grace

And that I might not be exalted by the exceeding greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted.

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Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

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For this I thrice besought the Lord that it might depart from me.

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But 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.

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And he said to me, My grace suffices thee; for [my] power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may dwell upon me.

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For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in straits, for Christ: for when I am weak, then I am powerful.

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Concern for the Corinthian Church

I 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.

11

Concern for the Corinthian Church

I have become a fool; *ye* have compelled me; for *I* ought to have been commended by you; for I have been nothing behind those who were in surpassing degree apostles, if also I am nothing.

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The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.

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The signs indeed of the apostle were wrought among you in all endurance, signs, and wonders, and works of power.

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For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

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For in what is it that ye have been inferior to the other assemblies, unless that I myself have not been in laziness a charge upon you? Forgive me this injury.

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Here 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.

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Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be in laziness a charge; for I do not seek yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

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I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

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Now *I* shall most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your souls, if even in abundantly loving you I should be less loved.

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But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit.

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But be it so. *I* did not burden you, but being crafty I took you by guile.

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Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you?

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Did I make gain of you by any of those whom I have sent to you?

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I 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?

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I begged Titus, and sent the brother with [him]: did Titus at all make gain of you? have we not walked in the same spirit? [have we] not in the same steps?

19

Have 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.

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Ye have long been supposing that we excuse ourselves to you: we speak before God in Christ; and all things, beloved, for your building up.

20

For 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.

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For I fear lest perhaps coming I find you not such as I wish, and that *I* be found by you such as ye do not wish: lest [there might be] strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, evil speakings, whisperings, puffings up, disturbances;

21

I 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.

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lest my God should humble me as to you when I come again, and that I shall grieve over many of those who have sinned before, and have not repented as to the uncleanness and fornication and licentiousness which they have practised.

Parallel

English Standard Version

Darby Bible Translation

2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12