2 Corinthians 11:24-12:10
New King James Version
24 From the Jews five times I received (A)forty (B)stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was (C)beaten with rods; (D)once I was stoned; three times I (E)was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, (F)in perils of my own countrymen, (G)in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, (H)in sleeplessness often, (I)in hunger and thirst, in (J)fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: (K)my deep concern for all the churches. 29 (L)Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
30 If I must boast, (M)I will boast in the things which concern my [a]infirmity. 31 (N)The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (O)who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 (P)In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
The Vision of Paradise
12 It is [b]doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to (Q)visions and (R)revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man (S)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 (T)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 (U)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 (V)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 (W)thorn in the flesh was given to me, (X)a messenger of Satan to [c]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 (Y)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 (Z)I will rather boast in my infirmities, (AA)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore (AB)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. (AC)For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 11:30 weakness
- 2 Corinthians 12:1 NU necessary, though not profitable, to boast
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 beat
2 Corinthians 11:24-12:10
English Standard Version
24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the (A)forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was (B)beaten with rods. (C)Once I was stoned. Three times I (D)was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, (E)danger from my own people, (F)danger from Gentiles, (G)danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 (H)in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, (I)in hunger and thirst, often without food,[a] in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for (J)all the churches. 29 (K)Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
30 (L)If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 (M)The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, (N)he who is blessed forever, (O)knows that I am not lying. 32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas (P)was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 (Q)but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.
Paul's Visions and His Thorn
12 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and (R)revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man (S)in Christ who fourteen years ago was (T)caught up to (U)the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, (V)God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into (W)paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, (X)God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, (Y)except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, (Z)I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So (AA)to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,[b] (AB)a thorn was given me in the flesh, (AC)a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 (AD)Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, (AE)“My grace is sufficient for you, for (AF)my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that (AG)the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 (AH)For the sake of Christ, then, (AI)I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For (AJ)when I am weak, then I am strong.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 11:27 Or often in fasting
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 Or hears from me, even because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited
2 Corinthians 11:24-12:10
King James Version
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
12 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. 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.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that 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.
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.
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.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, 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.
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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
