2 Corinthians 12

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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 I must boast; not that it is profitable, but I will go on 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 someone in Christ who, fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows), was 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 that this person (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows)
4 was caught up into Paradise and heard words said that cannot and may not be spoken by any humanbeing.	4 was caught up into Paradise and heard ineffable things, which no one may 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 About this person I will boast, but about myself I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.
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 Although if I should wish to boast, I would not be foolish, for I would be telling the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than what he sees in me or hears 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 because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.
8 About this, I have three times pleaded with the Lord that it might leave me;	8 Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave 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 but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with 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 Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
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 have been foolish. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I am in no way inferior to these "superapostles," even though I am nothing.
12 Al the marks characteristic of a true apostle have been at work among you: complete perseverance,signs, marvels, demonstrations of power.	12 The signs of an apostle were performed among you with all endurance, 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 In what way were you less privileged than the rest of the churches, except that on my part I did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
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 Now I am ready to come to you this third time. And I will not be a burden, for I want not what is yours, but you. Children ought not to save for their parents, but parents for their 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 I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your sakes. If I love you more, am I to 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 granted that I myself did not burden you, yet I was crafty and got the better of you by deceit.
17 Have I taken advantage of you through any of the people I have sent to you?	17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those 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 urged Titus to go and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? And 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 Have you been thinking all along that we are defending ourselves before you? In the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and all for building you up, beloved.
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 that when I come I may find you not such as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish; that there may be rivalry, jealousy, fury, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
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 I fear that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and licentiousness they practiced.