2 Corinthians 12:9-17
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 12
9And 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, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
11I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was in no respect inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.
12The distinguishing marks of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs, wonders, and miracles.
13For 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!
14Here 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.
15I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
16But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, devious person that I am, I took you in by deceit.
17Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?
King James Version
Chapter 12
9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
12Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
14Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome 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.
15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
16But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 12
9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.
12The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles.
13So in what way are you worse off than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me for this wrong!
14Look, I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
16Now granted, I did not burden you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit!
17Did I take advantage of you by any of those I sent you?
New Living Translation
Chapter 12
9Each time he said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these 'super apostles,' even though I am nothing at all.
12When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.
13The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong!
14Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have — I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children.
15I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.
English Standard Version
Chapter 12
9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11I 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 super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
12The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
13For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
14Here 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 are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
16But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit.
17Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you?
New International Version
Chapter 12
9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.
12I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.
13How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
16Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!
17Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you?
New King James Version
Chapter 12
9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.
12Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
13For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.