2 Corinthians 12

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

1I have to keep boasting, even though it gains nothing. Now I will tell about visions and messages the Lord gave me.

NoteIn old English, "to glory" means to boast or brag about yourself.

2I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

2I know a man who belongs to Christ. Fourteen years ago he was taken up to the third heaven. Was he in his body? I do not know. God knows.

3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

3I know this happened to that man. Was he in his body or out of it? I do not know. God knows.

4How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

4He was taken up into paradise, the place where God is. There he heard words too holy to say. No person is allowed to repeat them.

5Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

5I will boast about that man. But I will not boast about myself. I will only boast about how weak I am.

6For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

6If I did boast, I would not be a fool, because it would all be true. But I will stop. I do not want anyone to think I am more than what they see and hear.

7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

7God showed me many great things. So that I would not get proud, I was given a thorn in my body. It is a messenger from Satan to hurt me. It keeps me from getting proud.

NoteA "thorn in the flesh" is something painful that stays with you. Paul never says what his was.

8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

8Three times I begged the Lord to take it away from me.

9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

9He said to me, "My kindness is enough for you. My power works best when you are weak." So I am glad to boast about being weak. Then the power of Christ rests on me.

10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

10So I am happy when I am weak. I am happy when people insult me. I am happy in hard times, when people hurt me, and when things go wrong. I do all this for Christ. When I am weak, then I am strong.

11I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

11I have been talking like a fool, and you made me do it. You should have said good things about me. I am not less than those very important apostles, the men Jesus sent out to teach. And I am nothing.

12Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

12When I was with you, I showed the marks of a true apostle. I kept going patiently. I did signs and wonders and powerful works.

13For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

13Other churches did not get more than you did. The only difference is that I never asked you for money. Forgive me for that!

Note"Burdensome" here means asking people for money. Paul never asked the Corinthians to pay him.

14Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

14Look, I am ready to visit you a third time. I will not ask you for money. I do not want your things. I want you. Children do not save up money for their parents. Parents save up for their children.

15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

15I will gladly spend all I have, and myself too, to help you. I love you more and more. Will you love me less?

16But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

16Anyway, I did not cost you anything. But some say I was sneaky and caught you with a trick.

17Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

17Did I ever take your money through any of the men I sent to you?

18I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

18I asked Titus to go, and I sent a brother with him. Did Titus take your money? No. We acted with the same spirit. We walked the same way.

19Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

19Do you think we have been making excuses to you all this time? We speak in front of God, as people who belong to Christ. Dear friends, everything we do is to make you stronger.

20For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

20I am afraid about my visit. You may not be the way I want you to be. And I may not be the way you want me to be. I am afraid I will find fighting, jealousy, anger, and selfish quarrels. I am afraid of mean talk, gossip, proud hearts, and trouble.

21And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

21I am afraid of something else too. When I come again, my God may make me feel low in front of you. I may cry over many people who sinned before. They have not turned away from the impure things, the wrong sexual things, and the wild things they did.