2 Corinthians 12
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)Translation
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
Berean Standard Bible
1If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed), but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
2I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up to the third heaven.
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 it I do not know, but God knows.
3And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth),
3And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—
4That he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words, which it is not granted to man to utter.
4was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell.
5For such an one I will glory; but for myself I will glory nothing, but in my infirmities.
5I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
6For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me.
6Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,
7And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.
7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
8For which thing thrice I besought the Lord, that it might depart from me.
8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
10For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful.
10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11I am become foolish: you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you: for I have no way come short of them that are above measure apostles, although I be nothing.
11I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
12Yet the signs of my apostleship have been wrought on you, in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
12The true marks of an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.
13For what is there that you have had less than the other churches, but that I myself was not burthensome to you? Pardon me this injury.
13In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14Behold now the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burthensome unto you. For I seek not the things that are yours, but you. For neither ought the children to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
14See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15But I most gladly will spend and be spent myself for your souls; although loving you more, I be loved less.
15And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
16But be it so: I did not burthen you: but being crafty, I caught you by guile.
16Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
17Did I overreach you by any of them whom I sent to you?
17Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?
18I desired Titus, and I sent with him a brother. Did Titus overreach you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? did we not in the same steps?
18I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
19Of old, think you that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ; but all things, my dearly beloved, for your edification.
19Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
20For I fear lest perhaps when I come I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you such as you would not. Lest perhaps contentions, envyings, animosities, dissensions, detractions, whisperings, swellings, seditions, be among you.
20For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
21Lest again, when I come, God humble me among you: and I mourn many of them that sinned before, and have not done penance for the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, that they have committed.
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 their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.
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