2 Corinthians 12
12
Paul’s Vision and His Thorn
1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2I 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. 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6Even 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, 7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But 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. 10That 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.
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians
11I 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,”#12:11 Or the most eminent apostles even though I am nothing. 12I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. 13How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14Now 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. 15So 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? 16Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?
19Have 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. 20For 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 discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21I 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 Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
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2 Corinthians 12
12
1It is necessary for me to boast, nothing gained by it, yet I now come to marot (visions) and chazonot (revelations) of Adoneinu.
2I have da'as of a man in Moshiach arba esreh shanah (fourteen years) before, whether in or out of the basar I do not have da'as, Hashem knows — such a man was snatched up and raptured to the raki'a haShlishi of Shomayim.
3And I have da'as that such a man, whether in or out of the basar I do not have da'as, Hashem knows,
4That he was caught away into Gan-Eden and heard inexpressible devarim which to utter such words Bnei Adam have no heter (permit).
5On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on behalf of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.#12:5 2C 11:30
6But if I desire to boast, I will not be a yold (fool)#12:6 2C 10:8; 11:16 for I will speak HaEmes; but I spare you, lest anyone gives me credit beyond what he sees in me or hears in me.
7Therefore, lest I should be too exalted especially by the excess of my chazonot, there was given to me a kotz (thorn, splinter) in my basar, a malach of HaSatan, for the purpose of using his fists on me,#12:7 Job 2:6 lest I should be too exalted.#12:7 Num 33:55
8I davened shalosh pe'amim, calling upon Adoneinu that it might depart from me.
9And HaAdon said to me, “My Chesed is ad kahn (sufficient for the purpose, enough) for you, for My ko'ach (power) is perfected in weakness.” With lev samei'ach therefore will I boast in my weaknesses that the gevurah of Moshiach might be a shelter over me.#12:9 1Kgs 19:12
10Therefore, I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in tzoros on behalf of Moshiach; for whenever I am weak, then the gibbor (strong man) am I!#12:10 Pp 4:11,13
11I have been a yold! You forced me. For I ought to be commended by you, for in nothing I was behind the most groise (eminent) Shlichim,#12:11 2C 11:5 even if I am nothing.
12Indeed the otot (signs) of the Shliach of Moshiach were brought about among you in all savlanut (patience), both by otot and moftim and gevurot.#12:12 Ro 15:19
13For in what have you been short-changed compared to the rest of Moshiachʼs Kehillot, except that I myself was not a burden on you?#12:13 2C 11:9 Do pardon me this slight!
14Hinei, this is the pa'am shlishit I am ready to come to you,#12:14 2C 13:1 and I will not be a burden; for I seek not yours but you, for yeladim ought not to lay up for their horim (parents), but horim for their yeladim.#12:14 Prov 19:14
15But with simcha I will expend and be utterly expended for the nefashot (souls) of you.#12:15 Pp 2:17 If more abundantly I have ahavah for you, are you to have less ahavah for me?
16But let the matter of my being a burden on you be as it may, some say, “Crafty jack that I am, I took you by ormah (cunning).”#12:16 Gn 3:1
17Now I didn't take advantage of any of you through anyone I sent to you, did I?
18I urged Titos to go, and I sent with him the Ach b'Moshiach;#12:18 2C 8:6,16-18 Titos didn't take advantage of you, did he? Did we not walk our derech by the same Ruach Hakodesh? We did not march out of step, did Titos and I?
19All along have you been thinking that we are making a hitstaddekut (defense, apology) before you? No, before Hashem in Moshiach we speak! Everything we do, Chaverim, is for the sake of your chozek (strength) and edification!
20For I fear lest efsher (perhaps) when I come I may not find you as I wish#12:20 2C 2:1-4 and that you may not find me as you wish; I fear lest efsher there be merivah (strife), kinah (jealousy), ka'as (anger), machalokot (divisions), lashon hora (evil speech), ga'avah (conceit), commotions;
21Lest when I come again Hashem Elohai may make me anav (humble) before you, and I should have agmat nefesh over many of the ones who committed averos before,#12:21 2C 13:2 and have not made teshuva from the tumah (uncleanness) and zenut (fornication) and debauchery which they practiced.
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