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New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable ; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
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1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
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2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago -whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows -such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
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2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.
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3 And I know how such a man -whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows -
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3 And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--
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4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
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4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.
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5 On behalf of such a man I will boast ; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
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5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.
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6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, 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.
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6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, 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.
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7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me-to keep me from exalting myself!
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7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
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8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.
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8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
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9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
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9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
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10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
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10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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11 I have become foolish ; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.
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11 I have made a fool of myself, 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," even though I am nothing.
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12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
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12 The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance.
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13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong !
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13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
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14 Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
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14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, 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, but parents for their children.
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15 I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less ?
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15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
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16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself ; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit.
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16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!
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17 Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?
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17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you?
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18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps ?
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18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?
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19 All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.
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19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.
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20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish ; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances ;
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20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
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21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.
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21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
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| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved. (New American Standard Version - Holy Bible) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
