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2 Corinthians 12
New King James Version

### The Vision of Paradise

12 It is [a]doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to (A)visions and (B)revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man (C)in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one (D)was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into (E)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not (F)boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

### The Thorn in the Flesh

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a (G)thorn in the flesh was given to me, (H)a messenger of Satan to [b]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 (I)Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly (J)I will rather boast in my infirmities, (K)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore (L)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. (M)For when I am weak, then I am strong.

### Signs of an Apostle

11 I have become (N)a fool [c]in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for (O)in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though (P)I am nothing. 12 (Q)Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and (R)wonders and mighty (S)deeds. 13 For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

### Love for the Church

14 (T)Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for (U)I do not seek yours, but you. (V)For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent (W)for your souls; though (X)the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

16 But be that as it may, (Y)I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! 17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus, and sent our (Z)brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

19 (AA)Again, [d]do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? (AB)We speak before God in Christ. (AC)But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that (AD)I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again, my God (AE)will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many (AF)who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, (AG)fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

#### Footnotes

1. 2 Corinthians 12:1 NU necessary, though not profitable, to boast
2. 2 Corinthians 12:7 beat
3. 2 Corinthians 12:11 NU omits in boasting
4. 2 Corinthians 12:19 NU You have been thinking for a long time that we

#### Cross references

1. 2 Corinthians 12:1 : Acts 16:9; 18:9; 22:17, 18; 23:11; 26:13–15; 27:23
2. 2 Corinthians 12:1 : Acts 9:3–6; 1 Cor. 14:6; 2 Cor. 12:7; [Gal. 1:12; 2:2; Eph. 3:3–6]
3. 2 Corinthians 12:2 : Rom. 16:7; Gal. 1:22
4. 2 Corinthians 12:2 : Acts 22:17
5. 2 Corinthians 12:4 : Luke 23:43; [Rev. 2:7]
6. 2 Corinthians 12:5 : 2 Cor. 11:30
7. 2 Corinthians 12:7 : Num. 33:55; Ezek. 28:24; Hos. 2:6; Gal. 4:13, 14
8. 2 Corinthians 12:7 : Job 2:7; Matt. 4:10; Luke 13:16; [1 Cor. 5:5]
9. 2 Corinthians 12:8 : Deut. 3:23; Matt. 26:44
10. 2 Corinthians 12:9 : 2 Cor. 11:30
11. 2 Corinthians 12:9 : [1 Pet. 4:14]
12. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : [Rom. 5:3; 8:35]
13. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : 2 Cor. 13:4
14. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : 2 Cor. 5:13; 11:1, 16; 12:6
15. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : 1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 11:5
16. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : 1 Cor. 3:7; 13:2; 15:9
17. 2 Corinthians 12:12 : Acts 14:3; Rom. 15:18
18. 2 Corinthians 12:12 : Acts 15:12
19. 2 Corinthians 12:12 : Acts 14:8–10; 16:16–18; 19:11, 12; 20:6–12; 28:1–10
20. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 2 Cor. 1:15; 13:1, 2
21. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : Acts 20:33; [1 Cor. 10:24–33]
22. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 1 Cor. 4:14; Gal. 4:19
23. 2 Corinthians 12:15 : John 10:11; Rom. 9:3; 2 Cor. 1:6; Phil. 2:17; Col. 1:24; 1 Thess. 2:8; [2 Tim. 2:10]
24. 2 Corinthians 12:15 : 2 Cor. 6:12, 13
25. 2 Corinthians 12:16 : 2 Cor. 11:9
26. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : 2 Cor. 8:18
27. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : 2 Cor. 5:12
28. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : [Rom. 9:1, 2]; 2 Cor. 11:31
29. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : 1 Cor. 10:33
30. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 1 Cor. 4:21; 2 Cor. 13:2, 10
31. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : 2 Cor. 2:1, 4
32. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : 2 Cor. 13:2
33. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : 1 Cor. 5:1

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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