2 Corinthians 12 - English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

Paul's Visions and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and (A)revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man (B)in Christ who fourteen years ago was (C)caught up to (D)the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, (E)God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into (F)paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, (G)God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, (H)except of my weaknesses. 6 Though if I should wish to boast, (I)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. 7 So (J)to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,[a] (K)a thorn was given me in the flesh, (L)a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 (M)Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, (N)“My grace is sufficient for you, for (O)my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that (P)the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 (Q)For the sake of Christ, then, (R)I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For (S)when I am weak, then I am strong.

Concern for the Corinthian Church

11 (T)I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was (U)not at all inferior to these super-apostles, (V)even though I am nothing. 12 (W)The signs of a true apostle were performed among you (X)with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For in what were you less favoured than the rest of the churches, except that (Y)I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

14 Here (Z)for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for (AA)I seek not what is yours but you. For (AB)children are not bound to save up for their parents, but (AC)parents for their children. 15 (AD)I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If (AE)I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But granting that (AF)I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17 Did I take advantage of you (AG)through any of those whom I sent to you? 18 (AH)I urged Titus to go, and sent (AI)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?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is (AJ)in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and (AK)all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps (AL)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 quarrelling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 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 (AM)who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, (AN)sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practised.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:7 Or hears from me, even because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited

Cross references

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:1 : Gal. 1:12; 2:2; Eph. 3:3
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:2 : See ch. 5:17
  3. 2 Corinthians 12:2 : ver. 3; 1 Thess. 4:17; Rev. 12:5; [Ezek. 8:3; Acts 8:39]
  4. 2 Corinthians 12:2 : See Ps. 148:4
  5. 2 Corinthians 12:2 : ch. 11:11
  6. 2 Corinthians 12:3 : Luke 23:43; Rev. 2:7; [Gen. 2:8]
  7. 2 Corinthians 12:3 : [See ver. 2 above]; ch. 11:11
  8. 2 Corinthians 12:5 : See 1 Cor. 2:3
  9. 2 Corinthians 12:6 : ch. 5:13; 11:16, 17; [ver. 11]
  10. 2 Corinthians 12:7 : [ch. 10:10]
  11. 2 Corinthians 12:7 : [Num. 33:55; Ezek. 28:24]
  12. 2 Corinthians 12:7 : [Luke 13:16]; See 1 Cor. 5:5
  13. 2 Corinthians 12:8 : [Matt. 26:44]
  14. 2 Corinthians 12:9 : Isa. 43:2
  15. 2 Corinthians 12:9 : Isa. 40:29-31; [Phil. 4:13]
  16. 2 Corinthians 12:9 : See 1 Cor. 2:5
  17. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : [ch. 5:15]; See Matt. 5:11, 12
  18. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : Rom. 5:3
  19. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : [ch. 13:4]
  20. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : [ver. 6]
  21. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : See ch. 11:5; 1 Cor. 15:10
  22. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : See 1 Cor. 3:7; 15:9
  23. 2 Corinthians 12:12 : See Rom. 15:19; 1 Cor. 9:1
  24. 2 Corinthians 12:12 : ch. 6:4
  25. 2 Corinthians 12:13 : 1 Cor. 9:12; See Acts 20:33
  26. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : ch. 13:1; [ch. 1:15; 13:2]
  27. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 1 Cor. 10:24, 33
  28. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 1 Cor. 4:14, 15
  29. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : [Prov. 19:14; Ezek. 34:2]
  30. 2 Corinthians 12:15 : [ch. 1:6; Phil. 2:17; Col. 1:24; 1 Thess. 2:8; 2 Tim. 2:10]
  31. 2 Corinthians 12:15 : See ch. 6:11
  32. 2 Corinthians 12:16 : ch. 11:9
  33. 2 Corinthians 12:17 : [ch. 9:5]
  34. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : ch. 8:6
  35. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : ch. 8:18
  36. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : See Rom. 1:9; 9:1
  37. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : See 1 Cor. 14:26
  38. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : [ch. 2:1-4]; See 1 Cor. 4:21
  39. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : ch. 13:2; [Rev. 2:21]
  40. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : 1 Cor. 5:1; See 1 Cor. 6:18

You Might Also Like:

2 Corinthians 12 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

12 To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I have known a man in Christ, fourteen years ago -- whether in the body I have not known, whether out of the body I have not known, God hath known -- such an one being caught away unto the third ...
Read More

2 Corinthians 12 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

12 If it behooveth to have glory, it speedeth not; but I shall come to the visions and the revelations of the Lord. [If it behooveth to glory, soothly it speedeth not; forsooth I shall come to the visions and revelations of the Lord.] 2 I know a man in Christ that before fourteen years; whether in b...
Read More

2 Corinthians 12 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

12 I must talk about myself even though it does no good. I will talk about visions and things which the Lord has shown me. 2 I know a Christian man. Fourteen years ago he was taken up into the place where God lives. I do not know if he was in his body when he went or not. God knows if he was. 3 I do...
Read More

2 Corinthians 12 - World English Bible (WEB)

12 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago—whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows. 3 I know such a man...
Read More

2 Corinthians 12 - The Voice (VOICE)

Sincerity is a difficult thing to judge. The commitment that people have to a cause can only be determined over time. One test might be: do they persevere through hardships and challenges? In this regard, Paul is without equal. If the cause of Jesus were a fleeting interest or a halfhearted pursuit,...
Read More

2 Corinthians 12 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Boasting in Visions and Weakness12 I must go on boasting—though it does no good, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Messiah (whether in the body I don’t know, or whether out of the body I don’t know—God knows)—fourteen years ago, he was caught up to the third hea...
Read More

2 Corinthians 12 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Paul’s Visions and Revelations12 I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on 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. 3 And I kn...
Read More

2 Corinthians 12 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

12 Doubtless, it is not profitable for me to boast. Yet, I will now come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 More than fourteen years ago I knew a man in Christ, (whether he was in the body, I cannot tell, or out of the body, I cannot tell; God knows.) who was taken up into the third heaven. 3...
Read More

2 Corinthians 12 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

The Vision and the Thorn12 I just have to boast – not that there’s anything to be gained by it; but I’ll go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 Someone I know in the Messiah, fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know, though God knows), was snatched up to the ...
Read More

2 Corinthians 12 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Paul’s Visions and Revelations12 It is necessary to boast; nothing is to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a person 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.(A)3...
Read More

2 Corinthians 12 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

Paul is taken up into the third heaven and hears words not to be spoken of. 12 No doubt it is not seemly for me to boast. Nevertheless, I will come to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ about fourteen years ago (whether he was in the body I cannot tell, or whether he wa...
Read More

2 Corinthians 12 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn in the Flesh12 This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I[a] 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. 3 Yes...
Read More

2 Corinthians 12 - New Life Version (NLV)

Paul Sees Something True in a Special Dream12 I have to talk about myself, even if it does no good. But I will keep on telling about some things I saw in a special dream and that which the Lord has shown me. 2 I know a man who belongs to Christ. Fourteen years ago he was taken up to the highest hea...
Read More

2 Corinthians 12 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Vision of Paradise12 It is [a]doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to (A)visions and (B)revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man (C)in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one (D)was caught up...
Read More