2 Corinthians 12

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 I am boasting because I have to. Not that it does any good, but I wil move on to visions andrevelations from the Lord.	1 If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed): but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago -- stil in the body? I do not know; or out of the body? Ido not know: God knows -- was caught up right into the third heaven.	2 I 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.
3 And I know that this man -- stil in the body? or outside the body? I do not know, God knows-	3 And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth):
4 was caught up into Paradise and heard words said that cannot and may not be spoken by any humanbeing.	4 That he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words, which it is not granted to man to utter.
5 On behalf of someone like that I am wil ing to boast, but I am not going to boast on my own behalfexcept of my weaknesses;	5 For such an one I will glory; but for myself I will glory nothing, but in my infirmities.
6 and then, if I do choose to boast I shal not be talking like a fool because I shal be speaking the truth.But I wil not go on in case anybody should rate me higher than he sees and hears me to be, because of theexceptional greatness of the revelations.	6 For 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.
7 Wherefore, so that I should not get above myself, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger fromSatan to batter me and prevent me from getting above myself.	7 And 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.
8 About this, I have three times pleaded with the Lord that it might leave me;	8 For which thing thrice I besought the Lord, that it might depart from me.
9 but he has answered me, 'My grace is enough for you: for power is at ful stretch in weakness.' It is,then, about my weaknesses that I am happiest of al to boast, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me;	9 And 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.
10 and that is why I am glad of weaknesses, insults, constraints, persecutions and distress for Christ'ssake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong.	10 For 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.
11 I have turned into a fool, but you forced me to it. It is you that should have been commending me;those super-apostles had no advantage over me, even if I am nothing at all.	11 I 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.
12 Al the marks characteristic of a true apostle have been at work among you: complete perseverance,signs, marvels, demonstrations of power.	12 Yet the signs of my apostleship have been wrought on you, in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13 Is there any way in which you have been given less than the rest of the churches, except that I didnot make myself a burden to you? Forgive me for this unfairness!	13 For 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.
14 Here I am, ready to come to you for the third time and I am not going to be a burden on you: it is notyour possessions that I want, but yourselves. Children are not expected to save up for their parents, but parentsfor their children,	14 Behold 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.
15 and I am more than glad to spend what I have and to be spent for the sake of your souls. Is itbecause I love you so much more, that I am loved the less?	15 But I most gladly will spend and be spent myself for your souls; although loving you more, I be loved less.
16 Al right, then; I did not make myself a burden to you, but, trickster that I am, I caught you by trickery.	16 But be it so: I did not burthen you: but being crafty, I caught you by guile.
17 Have I taken advantage of you through any of the people I have sent to you?	17 Did I overreach you by any of them whom I sent to you?
18 Titus came at my urging, and I sent his companion with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Canyou deny that he and I were fol owing the guidance of the same Spirit and were on the same tracks?	18 I 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?
19 Al this time you have been thinking that we have been pleading our own cause before you; no, wehave been speaking in Christ and in the presence of God -- and all, dear friends, to build you up.	19 Of old, think you that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ; but all things, my dearly beloved, for your edification.
20 I am afraid that in one way or another, when I come, I may find you different from what I should likeyou to be, and you may find me what you would not like me to be; so that in one way or the other there wil berivalry, jealousy, bad temper, quarrels, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorders;	20 For 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.
21 and when I come again, my God may humiliate me in front of you and I shal be grieved by all thosewho sinned in the past and have stil not repented of the impurities and sexual immorality and debauchery thatthey have committed.	21 Lest 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.