Dual Panel1It is necessary <1163> to go on boasting <2744>. Though <3303> it is <4851> not <3756> profitable <4851>, I will go on <2064> to <1519> visions <3701> and <2532> revelations <602> from <2962> the Lord <2962>.
2I know <1492> a man <444> in <1722> Christ <5547> who fourteen <1180> years <2094> ago <4253> (whether <1535> in <1722> the body <4983> or <1535> out <1622> of the body <4983> I do <1492> not <3756> know <1492>, God <2316> knows <1492>) was caught up <726> to <2193> the third <5154> heaven <3772>.
3And <2532> I know <1492> that this <5108> man <444> (whether <1535> in <1722> the body <4983> or <1535> apart from <5565> the body <4983> I do <1492> not <3756> know <1492>, God <2316> knows <1492>)
4was caught up <726> into <1519> paradise <3857> and <2532> heard <191> things too sacred <731> to be put into words <4487>, things that <3739> a person <444> is <1832> not <3756> permitted <1832> to speak <2980>.
5On behalf <5228> of such an individual <5108> I will boast <2744>, but <1161> on <5228> my own <1683> behalf <5228> I will <2744> not <3756> boast <2744>, except <1487> <3361> about <1722> my weaknesses <769>.
6For <1063> even if <1437> I wish <2309> to boast <2744>, I will <1510> not <3756> be <1510> a fool <878>, for <1063> I would be telling <2046> the truth <225>, but <1161> I refrain <5339> from this so that no <3361> one <5100> may regard <3049> me <1691> beyond <5228> what <3739> he sees <991> in me <3165> or <2228> what he hears <191> from <1537> me <1700>,
7even <2532> because of the extraordinary character <5236> of the revelations <602>. Therefore <1352>, so that <2443> I would <5229> not <3361> become arrogant <5229>, a thorn <4647> in the flesh <4561> was given <1325> to me <3427>, a messenger <32> of Satan <4567> to <2443> trouble <2852> me <3165>– so that <2443> I would <5229> not <3361> become arrogant <5229>.
8I asked <3870> the Lord <2962> three times <5151> about <5228> this <5127>, that <2443> it would depart <868> from <575> me <1700>.
9But <2532> he said <2046> to me <3427>, “My <3450> grace <5485> is enough <714> for you <4671>, for <1063> my power <1411> is made perfect <5055> in <1722> weakness <769>.” So then <3767>, I will boast <2744> most <3123> gladly <2236> about <1722> my weaknesses <769>, so that <2443> the power <1411> of Christ <5547> may reside <1981> in <1909> me <1691>.
10Therefore <1352> I am content <2106> with <1722> weaknesses <769>, with <1722> insults <5196>, with <1722> troubles <318>, with <1722> persecutions <1375> and <2532> difficulties <4730> for the sake of <5228> Christ <5547>, for <1063> whenever <3752> I am weak <770>, then <5119> I am <1510> strong <1415>.
11I have become <1096> a fool <878>. You <315> yourselves <5210> forced <315> me <3165> to do it, for <1063> I <1473> should <3784> have been commended <4921> by <5259> you <5216>. For <1063> I lack <5302> nothing <3762> in comparison <5228> to those “super-apostles <3029> <652>,” even though <1487> <2532> I am <1510> nothing <3762>.
12Indeed <3303>, the signs <4592> of an apostle <652> were performed <2716> among <1722> you <5213> with <1722> great <3956> perseverance <5281> by signs <4592> and <2532> wonders <5059> and <2532> powerful deeds <1411>.
13For <1063> how <5101> were <1510> you treated worse <2274> than <5228> the other <3062> churches <1577>, except <1487> <3361> that <3754> I <1473> myself <846> was <2655> not <3756> a burden <2655> to you <5216>? Forgive <5483> me <3427> this <3778> injustice <93>!
14Look, for <2400> the third time <5154> I am <2192> ready <2093> to come <2064> to <4314> you <5209>, and <2532> I will <2655> not <3756> be a burden <2655> to you, because <1063> I do <2212> not <3756> want <2212> your <5216> possessions, but <235> you <5209>. For <1063> children <5043> should <3784> not <3756> have to save up <2343> for their parents <1118>, but <235> parents <1118> for their children <5043>.
15Now I <1473> will <1159> most gladly <2236> spend <1159> and <2532> be spent <1550> for <5228> your <5216> lives <5590>! If <1487> I love <25> you <5209> more <4056>, am I to be loved <25> less <2276>?
16But <1161> be <1510> that as it may, I <1473> have <2599> not <3756> burdened <2599> you <5209>. Yet <235> because I was <5225> a crafty person <3835>, I took <2983> you <5209> in <2983> by deceit <1388>!
17I have <4122> not <3361> taken advantage <4122> of you <5209> through <1223> anyone <5100> I have sent <649> to <4314> you <5209>, have I?
18I urged <3870> Titus <5103> to visit you and <2532> I sent <4882> our brother <80> along with <4882> him. Titus <5103> did <4122> not <3385> take advantage <4122> of you <5209>, did he? Did we <4043> not <3756> conduct <4043> ourselves in the same <846> spirit <4151>? Did we not <3756> behave in the same way?
19Have you been thinking <1380> all this time <3819> that <3754> we have been defending <626> ourselves to you <5213>? We are speaking <2980> in <1722> Christ <5547> before <2713> God <2316>, and <1161> everything <3956> we do, dear friends <27>, is to build <3619> you <5216> up <3619>.
20For <1063> I am afraid <5399> that somehow <4458> when <2064> I come <2064> I will <2147> not <3756> find <2147> you <5209> what I wish <2309>, and <2504> you <5213> will find <2147> me not <3756> what you wish <2309>. I am afraid that somehow <4458> there may be quarreling <2054>, jealousy <2205>, intense anger <2372>, selfish ambition <2052>, slander <2636>, gossip <5587>, arrogance <5450>, and disorder <181>.
21I am afraid that when I come <2064> again <3825>, my <3450> God <2316> may humiliate <5013> me <3165> before <4314> you <5209>, and <2532> I will grieve <3996> for many <4183> of those who previously sinned <4258> and <2532> have <3340> not <3361> repented <3340> of <1909> the impurity <167>, sexual immorality <4202>, and <2532> licentiousness <766> that <3739> they have practiced <4238>.