Sha'ul's Second Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 12 {12:1} It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. {12:2} I know a man in Messiah, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don't know, or whether out of the body, I don't know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven. {12:3} I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don't know; God knows), {12:4} how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. {12:5} On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. {12:6} For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I forbear, so that no man may account of me above that which he sees in me, or hears from me. {12:7} By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Hasatan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted excessively. {12:8} Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. {12:9} He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Messiah may rest on me. {12:10} Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Messiah's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. {12:11} I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing. {12:12} Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works. {12:13} For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong. {12:14} Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children. {12:15} I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less? {12:16} But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception. {12:17} Did I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you? {12:18} I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn't we walk in the same spirit? Didn't we walk in the same steps? {12:19} Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Messiah. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying. {12:20} For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don't desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots; {12:21} that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed. ________________________________________________________________________ The Hebrew Names Version of the World English Bible is in the Public Domain. Typo reports are welcome at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please see http://eBible.org/bible/hnv for updates and editing status. ___ To unsubscribe, please go to http://ebible.org/subscribe.htm OR send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with "unsubscribe hnv" in the message body.