| 章 |
| 12:1 |
Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
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| 12:2 |
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
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| 12:3 |
And I know how such a man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows--
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| 12:4 |
was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
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| 12:5 |
On behalf of such a man will I boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to [my] weaknesses.
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| 12:6 |
For if I do wish to boast I shall not be foolish, for I shall be speaking the truth; but I refrain [from] [this], so that no one may credit me with more than he sees [in] me or hears from me.
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| 12:7 |
And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me-- to keep me from exalting myself!
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| 12:8 |
Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
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| 12:9 |
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
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| 12:10 |
Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
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| 12:11 |
I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.
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| 12:12 |
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
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| 12:13 |
For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
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| 12:14 |
Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for [their] parents, but parents for [their] children.
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| 12:15 |
And I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less?
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| 12:16 |
But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit.
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| 12:17 |
[Certainly] I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?
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| 12:18 |
I urged Titus [to go], and sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit [and walk] in the same steps?
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| 12:19 |
All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. [Actually], it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.
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| 12:20 |
For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps [there may be] strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;
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| 12:21 |
I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.
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