2 Corinthians 12 — Side by side (WEB, ASV, DRA)

1I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

1If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed) but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven.

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.

3And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),

3And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth):

4how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

4That he was caught up into paradise and heard secret words which it is not granted to man to utter.

5On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in my weaknesses.

5For such an one I will glory: but for myself I will glory nothing but in my infirmities.

6For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me to be, or heareth from me.

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.

7And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.

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.

8Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

8For which thing, thrice I besought the Lord that it might depart from me.

9And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon 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.

10Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

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.

11I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.

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.

12Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works.

12Yet the signs of my apostleship have been wrought on you, in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

13For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except it be that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong.

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.

14Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

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.

15And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?

15But I most gladly will spend and be spent myself for your souls: although loving you more, I be loved less.

16But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

16But be it so: I did not burthen you: but being crafty, I caught you by guile.

17Did I take advantage of you by any one of them whom I have sent unto you?

17Did I overreach you by any of them whom I sent to you?

18I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

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?

19Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

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.

20For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means there should be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;

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.

21lest again when I come my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed.

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.