2 Corinthians 11:30-12:10
New American Standard Bible
30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my (A)weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, (B)He who is blessed forever, (C)knows that I am not lying. 32 In (D)Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was (E)guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, 33 and I was let down in a basket (F)through a window [a]in the wall, and so escaped his hands.
Paul’s Vision
12 (G)Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and (H)revelations [b]of the Lord. 2 I know a man (I)in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, (J)God knows—such a man was (K)caught up to the (L)third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, (M)God knows— 4 was (N)caught up into (O)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 (P)In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my (Q)weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be (R)foolish, (S)for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.
A Thorn in the Flesh
7 Because of the extraordinary greatness of the (T)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a (U)thorn in the flesh, a (V)messenger of Satan to [c]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord (W)three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for (X)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather (Y)boast [d]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore (Z)I delight in weaknesses, in [e]insults, in (AA)distresses, in (AB)persecutions, in (AC)difficulties, (AD)in behalf of Christ; for (AE)when I am weak, then I am strong.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 11:33 Lit through
- 2 Corinthians 12:1 Or from
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 Lit beat
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 Lit in
- 2 Corinthians 12:10 Or mistreatment
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