1995 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

2 Corinthians 12

1 For commending of his apostleship, though he might glory of his wonderful revelations, 9 yet he rather chooseth to glory of his infirmities, 11 blaming them for forcing him to this vain boasting. 14 He promiseth to come to them again: but yet altogether in the affection of a father, 20 although he feareth he shall to his grief find many offenders and publick disorders there.

 12:1 Boasting 2744 is necessary 1163, though 3303a it is not profitable 4851a; but I will go 2064 on to visions 3701 and revelations 602 of the Lord 2962.

 12:2 I know 3609a a man 444 in Christ 5547 who fourteen 1180 years 2094 ago 4253—whether 1535a in the body 4983 I do not know 3609a, or 1535a out of the body 4983 I do not know 3609a, God 2316 knows 3609a—such 5108 a man 5108 was caught 726 up to the third 5154 heaven 3772.

 12:3 And I know 3609a how 3609a such 5108 a man 444—whether 1535a in the body 4983 or 1535a apart 5565 from the body 4983 I do not know 3609a, God 2316 knows 3609a—

 12:4 was caught 726 up into Paradise 3857 and heard 191 inexpressible 731 words 4487, which 3739 a man 444 is not permitted 1832 to speak 2980.

 12:5 On behalf 5228 of such 5108 a man 5108 I will boast 2744; but on my own 1683 behalf 5228 I will not boast 2744, except 1508 in regard to [my] weaknesses 769.

 12:6 For if 1437 I do wish 2309 to boast 2744 I will not be foolish 878, for I will be speaking 3004 the truth 225; but I refrain 5339 [from this], so 3361 that no 3361 one 5100 will credit 3049 me with more 5228 than 5228 he sees 991 [in] me or 2228 hears 191 from me.

 12:7 Because of the surpassing 5236 greatness 5236 of the revelations 602, for this 1352 reason 1352, to keep 3361 me from exalting 5229 myself, there was given 1325 me a thorn 4647 in the flesh 4561, a messenger 32a of Satan 4567 to torment 2852 me—to keep 3361 me from exalting 5229 myself!

 12:8 Concerning 5228 this 3778 I implored 3870 the Lord 2962 three 5151 times 5151 that it might leave 868 me.

 12:9 And He has said 3004 to me, “My grace 5485 is sufficient 714 for you, for power 1411 is perfected 5055 in weakness 769.” Most 2234 gladly 2234, therefore 3767, I will rather 3123 boast 2744 about 1722 my weaknesses 769, so 2443 that the power 1411 of Christ 5547 may dwell 1981 in me.

 12:10 Therefore 1352 I am 2106 well 2106 content 2106 with weaknesses 769, with insults 5196, with distresses 318, with persecutions 1375, with difficulties 4730, for Christ’s 5547 sake 5228; for when 3752 I am 770 weak 770, then 5119 I am 1510 strong 1415.

 12:11 ¶ I have become 1096 foolish 878; you yourselves 4771 compelled 315 me. Actually 1063 I should 3784 have been commended 4921 by you, for in no 3762 respect 3762 was I inferior 5302 to the most 5244b eminent 5244b apostles 652, even 2532 though 1487 I am 1510 a nobody 3762.

 12:12 The signs 4592 of a true apostle 652 were performed 2716 among 1722 you with all 3956 perseverance 5281, by signs 4592 and wonders 5059 and miracles 1411.

 12:13 For in what 5101 respect were you treated 2274 as inferior 2274 to the rest 3062 of the churches 1577, except 1508 that I myself 846 did not become a burden 2655 to you? Forgive 5483 me this 3778 wrong 93!

 12:14 ¶ Here 2400 for this 3778 third 5154 time 5154 I am 2192 ready 2093 to come 2064 to you, and I will not be a burden 2655 to you; for I do not seek 2212 what is yours 4771, but you; for children 5043 are not responsible 3784 to save 2343 up for [their] parents 1118, but parents 1118 for [their] children 5043.

 12:15 I will most 2234 gladly 2234 spend 1159 and be expended 1550 for your souls 5590. If 1487 I love 25 you more 4057, am I to be loved 25 less 2269b?

 12:16 But be that as it may, I did not burden 2599a you myself 1473; nevertheless 235, crafty 3835 fellow that I am, I took 2983 you in by deceit 1388.

 12:17 [Certainly] I have not taken 4122 advantage 4122 of you through 1223 any 5100 of those whom 3739 I have sent 649 to you, have I?

 12:18 I urged 3870 Titus 5103 [to go], and I sent 4882 the brother 80 with him. Titus 5103 did not take 4122 any 4122 advantage 4122 of you, did he? Did we not conduct 4043 ourselves 4043 in the same 846 spirit 4151 [and walk] in the same 846 steps 2487?

 12:19 ¶ All 3819 this 3819 time 3819 you have been thinking 1380 that we are defending 626 ourselves to you. [Actually], it is in the sight 2713 of God 2316 that we have been speaking 2980 in Christ 5547; and all 3956 for your upbuilding 3619, beloved 27.

 12:20 For I am 5399 afraid 5399 that perhaps 4458 when I come 2064 I may find 2147 you to be not what 3634 I wish 2309 and may be found 2147 by you to be not what 3634 you wish 2309; that perhaps 4458 [there will be] strife 2054, jealousy 2205b, angry 2372 tempers 2372, disputes 2052, slanders 2636, gossip 5587, arrogance 5450, disturbances 181;

 12:21 I am afraid that when I come 2064 again 3825 my God 2316 may humiliate 5013 me before 4314 you, and I may mourn 3996 over many 4183 of those 3588 who have sinned 4258 in the past 4258 and not repented 3340 of the impurity 167, immorality 4202 and sensuality 766 which 3739 they have practiced 4238.