1 W ell, it is not of profit to me to boast, for I will come to visions and revelations of Lord.

It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:

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

I know a man 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 was caught up to the third heaven.

3 A nd I know such a man, (whether in body or out of the body I know not, God knows;)

And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—

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

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

5 O f such I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, unless in my weaknesses.

Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.

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

For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. The Thorn in the Flesh

7 A nd 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.

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

8 F or this I thrice besought the Lord that it might depart from me.

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

9 A nd he said to me, My grace suffices thee; for 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.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

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

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Signs of an Apostle

11 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.

I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.

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

Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

13 F or 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.

For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong! Love for the Church

14 B ehold, 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.

Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; 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.

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

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

16 B ut be it so. I did not burden you, but being crafty I took you by guile.

But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning!

17 D id I make gain of you by any of those whom I have sent to you?

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

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

I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

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

Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.

20 F or 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 strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, evil speakings, whisperings, puffings up, disturbances;

For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;

21 l est 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.

lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.