1  It is indeed not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of YHWH

1  I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

1  BOASTING is proper, but there is no advantage in it, and I prefer to relate the visions and revelations of our LORD.

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

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 know such a man-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-

3  And I still know this man, but whether in the body or whether without the body, I cannot tell; God knows;

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

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

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

4  who was enraptured into Paradise. And he heard words of mystery, which it is not permitted for man to speak.

5  Concerning such a one I will boast, but concerning myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

5  On behalf of someone like this, I will glory. But on behalf of myself, I will not glory about anything, except my infirmities.

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

6  For if I should desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak [the] truth. But I spare [you], lest anyone consider me to be beyond what he sees me [to be] or hears something from me.

6  For even though I am willing to glory, I will not be foolish. But I will speak the truth. Yet I will do so sparingly, lest anyone may consider me to be anything more than what he sees in me, or anything more than what he hears from me.

6  But even if I would desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will tell the truth: but now I refrain, lest any one should think more of me than what he sees me to be and what he hears from me.

7  And lest I exalt myself above measure by the excellence of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, that it might beat me, lest I exalt myself above measure.

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.

7  And lest the greatness of the revelations should extol me, there was given to me a prodding in my flesh: an angel of Satan, who struck me repeatedly.

8  Concerning this I pleaded with YHWH three times that it might depart from me.

8  Because of this, three times I petitioned the Lord that it might be taken away from me.

9  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness."Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

9  And he said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness.” And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me.

10  Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

10  Because of this, I am pleased in my infirmity: in reproaches, in difficulties, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful.

11  I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me! For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing have I been inferior to the super apostles, though I am nothing.

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.

11  Behold, I am foolish to boast but you have forced me: for you ought to have testified concerning me: for in no way am I less than those apostles who are highly honored, though I am nothing.

12  Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and miracles.

12  And the seal of my Apostleship has been set over you, with all patience, with signs and wonders and miracles.

12  The miracles which the apostles have wrought I have wrought among you also in all patience, in signs, in wonders, and mighty deeds.

13  For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

14  Now for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not burden you. For I do not seek what is yours, but you. For the children ought not to store up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

14  Behold, this is the third time I have prepared to come to you, and yet I will not be a burden to you. For I am seeking not the things that are yours, but you yourselves. And neither should the children store up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

15  And I gladly will spend and be expended for your souls; although the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

15  And so, very willingly, I will spend and exhaust myself for the sake of your souls, loving you more, while being loved less.

15  I will gladly pay my expenses, and I will even give myself for the sake of your souls; though the more I love you, the less you love me.

16  But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I took you with guile!

16  But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

16  And so be it. I have not burdened you, but instead, being astute, I obtained you by guile.

17  Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you?

17  Why? Did I extort anything from you by any of the men whom I sent to you?

18  I urged Titus, and I sent with him the brother. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did [we] not [walk] in the same Spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

18  I asked for Titus, and I sent a brother with him. Did Titus defraud you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

18  I requested Titus to visit you, and I sent brethren with him. Did Titus extort anything from you? Did we not walk in the same spirit, and did we not walk in the same steps?

19  Again, do you think that we are defending ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.

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.

20  For I am afraid, lest perhaps when I come, I will not find you as I desire, and that I will be found by you as you do not desire; lest perhaps there[ be] contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, disputes, slanders, gossipings, pride, disorders;

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;

20  Yet I fear, lest perhaps, when I have arrived, I might not find you such as I would want, and I might be found by you, such as you would not want. For perhaps there may be among you: contention, envy, animosity, dissension, detraction, whispering, self-exaltation, and rebellion.

21  lest, when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will mourn for many who have previously sinned and have not repented for the impurity and fornication and lewdness which they practiced.

21  If so, then, when I have arrived, God may again humble me among you. And so, I mourn for the many who sinned beforehand, and did not repent, over the lust and fornication and homosexuality, which they have committed.

21  And 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.