12:1 I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
12:1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

12:2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven.
12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- such a man was caught up to the third heaven.

12:3 And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),
12:3 And I know how such a man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows--

12:4 how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
12:4 was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

12:5 On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in (my) weaknesses.
12:5 On behalf of such a man will I boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to [my] weaknesses.

12:6 For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me (to be), or heareth from me.
12:6 For if I do wish to boast I shall not be foolish, for I shall be speaking the truth; but I refrain [from this,] so that no one may credit me with more than he sees [in] me or hears from me.

12:7 And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.
12:7 And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me-- to keep me from exalting myself!

12:8 Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
12:8 Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

12:9 And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for (my) power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

12:10 Wherefore 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.
12:10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

12:11 I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.
12:11 I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.

12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works.
12:12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.

12:13 For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except (it be) that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong.
12:13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

12:14 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 yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
12:14 Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for [their] parents, but parents for [their] children.

12:15 And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
12:15 And I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less?

12:16 But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
12:16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit.

12:17 Did I take advantage of you by any one of them whom I have sent unto you?
12:17 [Certainly] I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?

12:18 I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not in the same spirit? (walked we) not in the same steps?
12:18 I urged Titus [to go,] and sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit [and walk] in the same steps?

12:19 Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, (are) for your edifying.
12:19 All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. [Actually,] it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.

12:20 For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means (there should be) strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;
12:20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps [there may be] strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;

12:21 lest again when I come my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed.
12:21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.