2 Corinthians 12

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 If it is necessary (though certainly not expedient) to glory, then I will next tell of visions and revelations from the Lord.	1 I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ, who, more than fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows), was enraptured to the third heaven.	2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.
3 And I know a certain man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows),	3 And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows--
4 who was enraptured into Paradise. And he heard words of mystery, which it is not permitted for man to speak.	4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
5 On behalf of someone like this, I will glory. But on behalf of myself, I will not glory about anything, except my infirmities.	5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.
6 For even though I am willing to glory, I will not be foolish. But I will speak the truth. Yet I will do so sparingly, lest anyone may consider me to be anything more than what he sees in me, or anything more than what he hears from me.	6 Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.
7 And lest the greatness of the revelations should extol me, there was given to me a prodding in my flesh: an angel of Satan, who struck me repeatedly.	7 And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated.
8 Because of this, three times I petitioned the Lord that it might be taken away from me.	8 Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me;
9 And he said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness.” And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me.	9 but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Because of this, I am pleased in my infirmity: in reproaches, in difficulties, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful.	10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I have become foolish; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you. For I have been nothing less than those who claim to be above the measure of Apostles, even though I am nothing.	11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these superlative apostles, even though I am nothing.
12 And the seal of my Apostleship has been set over you, with all patience, with signs and wonders and miracles.	12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
13 For what is there that you have had which is less than the other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this injury.	13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 Behold, this is the third time I have prepared to come to you, and yet I will not be a burden to you. For I am seeking not the things that are yours, but you yourselves. And neither should the children store up for the parents, but the parents for the children.	14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you; for children ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15 And so, very willingly, I will spend and exhaust myself for the sake of your souls, loving you more, while being loved less.	15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less?
16 And so be it. I have not burdened you, but instead, being astute, I obtained you by guile.	16 But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by guile.
17 And yet, did I defraud you by means of any of those whom I sent to you?	17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you?
18 I asked for Titus, and I sent a brother with him. Did Titus defraud you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?	18 I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?
19 Have you ever thought that we should explain ourselves to you? We speak in the sight of God, in Christ. But all things, most beloved, are for your edification.	19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves before you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.
20 Yet I fear, lest perhaps, when I have arrived, I might not find you such as I would want, and I might be found by you, such as you would not want. For perhaps there may be among you: contention, envy, animosity, dissension, detraction, whispering, self-exaltation, and rebellion.	20 For I fear that perhaps I may come and find you not what I wish, and that you may find me not what you wish; that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
21 If so, then, when I have arrived, God may again humble me among you. And so, I mourn for the many who sinned beforehand, and did not repent, over the lust and fornication and homosexuality, which they have committed.	21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned before and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and licentiousness which they have practiced.