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

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

2 I 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

6 F or 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.

Should 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.

7 A nd 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.

And 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.

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

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

9 A nd 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.

But 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!

10 T herefore 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.

So 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).

11 I 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.

Now 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).

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

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

13 F or 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.

For 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!

14 B ehold, 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.

Now 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

18 I 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?

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?

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

Have 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.

20 F or 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:

For 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.

21 A nd 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.

that 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.