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New International Version (NIV) |
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1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come 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, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don't know, or whether out of the body, I don't know; God knows), such a one caught up into 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 I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don't 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 how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
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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 one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in 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 would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I forbear, so that no man may account of me above that which 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 By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted excessively.
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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 thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
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8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
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9 He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on 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 take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I 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 in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I behind the very best apostles, though I am nothing.
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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 Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
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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 what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not 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 Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the 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 spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the 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 it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.
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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 Did I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you?
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17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you?
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18 I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn't we walk in the same spirit? Didn't we 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 Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
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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 by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don't desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots;
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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 that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.
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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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| The World English Bible is in the public domain. (The World English Bible Online) |
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) |
