2 Corinthians 12

Paul tells of a man caught up to the third heaven who heard unspeakable words, and reveals that he was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. The Lord told him, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness," and Paul declares that when he is weak, then he is strong.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.	It is not really profitable for me to boast. Nevertheless, I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2	I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.	I knew a man in Christ over fourteen years ago — whether in the body, I cannot tell; or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows — such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
3	And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)	And I knew such a man — whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows —
4	How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.	how He was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5	Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.	Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
6	For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.	For though I might wish to boast, I would not be a fool — for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so that no one will think of me more highly than what he sees in me or hears from me.
7	And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.	And to keep me from being exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh — a messenger of Satan to buffet me — so I would not be exalted above measure.
8	For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.	Three times I pleaded with the Lord that it might depart from me.
9	And 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.	And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10	Therefore 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.	Therefore 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.
11	I 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.	I have become a fool in boasting; You compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by You, since in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.
12	Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.	Truly the signs of an apostle were performed among You in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
13	For 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.	For in what way were You inferior to the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to You? Forgive me this wrong.
14	Behold, 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.	Now for 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.
15	And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.	And I will most gladly spend and be spent for You — though the more abundantly I love You, the less I am loved.
16	But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.	But be it so: I did not burden You. Nevertheless — they say — being crafty, I caught You with guile.
17	Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?	Did I take advantage of You through any of those I sent to You?
18	I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?	I urged Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?
19	Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.	Again, do You think we are excusing ourselves to You? We speak before God in Christ. But all things, dearly beloved, are for Your building up.
20	For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:	For I fear that when I come, I shall not find You as I wish, and that I shall be found by You not as You wish — that there may be quarrels, envyings, outbursts of wrath, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;
21	And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.	and that when I come again, my God may humble me among You, and I shall mourn over many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lasciviousness which they have committed.