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2 Corinthians 11:30-12:14
King James Version
2 Corinthians 11:30-12:14
King James Version
30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
12 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come 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.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For 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.
7 And 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.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And 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.
10 Therefore 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.
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.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13 For 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.
14 Behold, 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.
2 Corinthians 11:30-12:14
New International Version
2 Corinthians 11:30-12:14
New International Version
30 If I must boast, I will boast(A) of the things that show my weakness.(B) 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever,(C) knows(D) that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.(E) 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.(F)
Paul’s Vision and His Thorn
12 I must go on boasting.(G) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations(H) from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ(I) who fourteen years ago was caught up(J) to the third heaven.(K) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.(L) 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up(M) to paradise(N) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.(O) 6 Even if I should choose to boast,(P) I would not be a fool,(Q) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations.(R) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,(S) a messenger of Satan,(T) to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.(U) 9 But he said to me, “My grace(V) is sufficient for you, for my power(W) is made perfect in weakness.(X)”(Y) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight(Z) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,(AA) in persecutions,(AB) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(AC)
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians
11 I have made a fool of myself,(AD) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”[a](AE) even though I am nothing.(AF) 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.(AG) 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?(AH) Forgive me this wrong!(AI)
14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,(AJ) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,(AK) but parents for their children.(AL)
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 12:11 Or the most eminent apostles
New International Version (NIV) 
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