A Thorn in the Flesh

Because of the extraordinary greatness of the (A)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a (B)thorn in the flesh, a (C)messenger of Satan to [a]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord (D)three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for (E)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather (F)boast [b]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore (G)I delight in weaknesses, in [c]insults, in (H)distresses, in (I)persecutions, in (J)difficulties, (K)in behalf of Christ; for (L)when I am weak, then I am strong.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:7 Lit beat
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Lit in
  3. 2 Corinthians 12:10 Or mistreatment

even because of the extraordinary degree of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, in order that it would torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would depart from me. And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because the[a] power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore rather I will boast most gladly in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may reside in me. 10 Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:9 A majority of later manuscripts read “my”

or because of these surpassingly great revelations.(A) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,(B) a messenger of Satan,(C) to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.(D) But he said to me, “My grace(E) is sufficient for you, for my power(F) is made perfect in weakness.(G)(H) 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(I) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,(J) in persecutions,(K) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(L)

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