1 T rue, there is nothing to be gained by it, but to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

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 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.

I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven.

3 A nd I know that this man—whether in the body or away from the body I do not know, God knows—

I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),

4 W as caught up into paradise, and he heard utterances beyond the power of man to put into words, which man is not permitted to utter.

how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 O f this same I will boast, but of myself (personally) I will not boast, except as regards my infirmities (my weaknesses).

On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

6 S hould I desire to boast, I shall not be a witless braggart, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I abstain so that no one may form a higher estimate of me than what he sees in me or hears from me.

For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me.

7 A nd to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn ( a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted.

By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.

8 T hree times I called upon the Lord and besought about this and begged that it might depart from me;

Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

9 B ut He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

10 S o for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak '> in human strength], then am I strong (able, powerful in divine strength).

Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

11 N ow I have been a fool! But you forced me to it, for I ought to have been '> saved the necessity and] commended by you. For I have not fallen short one bit or proved myself at all inferior to those superlative apostles, even if I am nothing (a nobody).

I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

12 I ndeed, the signs that indicate a apostle were performed among you fully and most patiently in miracles and wonders and mighty works.

Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.

13 F or in what respect were you put to a disadvantage in comparison with the rest of the churches, unless that I myself did not burden you ? Pardon me this injustice!

For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.

14 N ow for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not burden you, for it is not your that I want but you; for children are not duty bound to lay up store for their parents, but parents for their children.

Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

15 B ut I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your souls. If I love you exceedingly, am I to be loved the less?

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

16 B ut though granting that I did not burden you I was crafty I cheated and got the better of you with my trickery.

But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.

17 D id I take advantage of you or make any money out of you through any of those whom I sent to you?

Did I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you?

18 I urged Titus, and I sent the brother with. Did Titus overreach or take advantage of you ? Did he and I not act in the same spirit? Did we not same steps?

I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?

19 H ave you been supposing that we have been defending ourselves and apologizing to you? in the sight and the presence of God in Christ (the Messiah) that we have been speaking, dearly beloved, and all in order to build you up.

Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

20 F or I am fearful that somehow or other I may come and find you not as I desire to find you, and that you may find me too not as you want to find me—that perhaps there may be factions (quarreling), jealousy, temper (wrath, intrigues, rivalry, divided loyalties), selfishness, whispering, gossip, arrogance (self-assertion), and disorder among you.

For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots;

21 t hat when I come again, my God may humiliate and humble me in your regard, and that I may have to sorrow over many of those who sinned before and have not repented of the impurity, sexual vice, and sensuality which they formerly practiced.

that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.