Modern Literal Version
[2 Corinthians 12]

     ^12:1 It is not advantageous for me to boast! For^* I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. ^12:2 I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years before, (whether in the body, I do not know or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows), such a one was seized up to the third heaven.^12:3 And I know such a man (whether in the body or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows), ^12:4 that he was seized up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not legal for man to speak. ^12:5 I will be boasting on behalf of such a one, but I will not be boasting on behalf of myself, except in my weaknesses. ^12:6 For^* if I wish to boast, I will not be foolish; for^* I will be speaking the truth, but I am refraining, lest anyone should reason of me beyond what he sees from me or hears something out of me. ^12:7 And, in order that I should not promote myself by the excellence of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of theAdversary, in order that it might batter me, in order that I should not promote myself. ^12:8 I pleaded with the Lord three-times in regard to this thing, in order that it might withdraw from me. ^12:9 And he has said to me, My grace is enough for you; for^* my power is completed in weakness. Therefore I will rather gladly be boasting in my weaknesses, in order that the power of the Christ might reside upon me. ^12:10 Hence I am delighted in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions, in distresses, on behalf of Christ; for^* whenever I am weak, then I am mighty.

     ^12:11 I have become a boasting fool. You^* urged me to it. For^* I was obligated to be commended by you^*; for^* I lacked in nothing over those preeminent apostles, even if I am nothing. ^12:12 Indeed the signs of an apostle were worked among you^* in all endurance, in signs and wonders and miracles. ^12:13 For^* in what is it that you^* were lesser, beyond the rest of the congregations^*, exceptin that I myself did not encumber you^*? Forgive^** me this unrighteousness!

     ^12:14 Behold, I hold ready to come to you^* the third-time, and I will not be encumbering you^*; for^* I am not seeking the things of you^*, but you^*; for^* the children ought not to store up for the parents, but the parents for the children. ^12:15 Now I will gladly spend and be utterly spent on behalf of your^* souls; even if, when loving^* you^* even-more, means I am loved^* even-less. ^12:16But let it be so, nevertheless, I did not burden you^*. But, being^* crafty, I took you^* with treachery.^12:17 Anyone of whom I have sent to you^*, I did not take-advantage of you^* through him, did I? ^12:18I encouraged Titus and I sent the brother together with him. Did Titus take-advantage of any of you^*? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same footprints?

     ^12:19 Again, do you^* think that we are defending ourselves to you^*? We speak in Christ in God's sight. But beloved, all things are on behalf of your^* building up. ^12:20 For^* I am fearing, lest, if I came, I should find you^* such-as I do not will and I myself might be found by you^* such-as you^*do not will; lest there should be strifes, jealousies, furies, selfish ambitions, slanderers, malicious whisperers, arrogant-people, unrests; ^12:21 lest having come again, my God will humble me before you^* and I should mourn for many of those who have sinned before and did not repent upon the uncleanness and fornication and unbridled-lust in which they practiced.

Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1987, 1999, 2013 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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