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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>2 Corinthians 12 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_corinthians/12.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/2_corinthians/12-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > 2 Corinthians 12</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_corinthians/11.htm" title="2 Corinthians 11">◄</a> 2 Corinthians 12 <a href="../2_corinthians/13.htm" title="2 Corinthians 13">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">Visions from the Lord</h3><p class="par"><span class="v47_12_1"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.1" class="v47_12_1">1</span>I have to brag. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I must brag about the visions and other things that the Lord has shown me. </span><span class="v47_12_2"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.2" class="v47_12_2">2</span>I know about one of Christ's followers who was taken up into the third heaven 14 years ago. I don't know if the man was still in his body when it happened, but God certainly knows.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v47_12_3"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.3" class="v47_12_3">3</span>As I said, only God really knows if this man was in his body at the time. </span><span class="v47_12_4"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.4" class="v47_12_4">4</span>But he was taken up into paradise,<a href="#fn" id="link_2Cor.12.4!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> where he heard things too wonderful to tell. </span><span class="v47_12_5"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.5" class="v47_12_5">5</span>I will brag about that man, but not about myself, except to say how weak I am.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v47_12_6"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.6" class="v47_12_6">6</span>Yet even if I did brag, I would not be foolish. I would simply be speaking the truth. But I will try not to say too much. That way, none of you will think more highly of me than you should because of what you have seen me do and say. </span><span class="v47_12_7"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.7" class="v47_12_7">7</span>Of course, I am now referring to the wonderful things I saw. One of Satan's angels was sent to make me suffer terribly, so that I would not feel too proud.<a href="#fn" id="link_2Cor.12.7!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="par"><span class="v47_12_8"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.8" class="v47_12_8">8</span>Three times I begged the Lord to make this suffering go away. </span><span class="v47_12_9"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.9" class="v47_12_9">9</span>But he replied, “My gift of undeserved grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am. </span><span class="v47_12_10"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.10" class="v47_12_10">10</span>Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Paul's Concern for the Lord's Followers at Corinth</h3><p class="par"><span class="v47_12_11"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.11" class="v47_12_11">11</span>I have been making a fool of myself. But you forced me to do it, when you should have been speaking up for me. I may be nothing at all, but I am as good as those super apostles. </span><span class="v47_12_12"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.12" class="v47_12_12">12</span>When I was with you, I was patient and worked all the powerful miracles and signs and wonders of a true apostle. </span><span class="v47_12_13"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.13" class="v47_12_13">13</span>You missed out on only one blessing the other churches received. That is, you didn't have to support me. Forgive me for doing you wrong.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v47_12_14"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.14" class="v47_12_14">14</span>I am planning to visit you for the third time. But I still won't make a burden of myself. What I really want is you, and not what you have. Children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents are supposed to take care of their children. </span><span class="v47_12_15"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.15" class="v47_12_15">15</span>So I will gladly give all I have and all I am. Will you love me less for loving you too much? </span><span class="v47_12_16"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.16" class="v47_12_16">16</span>You agree that I wasn't a burden to you. Maybe that's because I was trying to catch you off guard and trick you. </span><span class="v47_12_17"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.17" class="v47_12_17">17</span>Were you cheated by any of those I sent to you? </span><span class="v47_12_18"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.18" class="v47_12_18">18</span>I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent another follower with him. But Titus didn't cheat you, and we felt and behaved the same way he did.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v47_12_19"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.19" class="v47_12_19">19</span>Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? Actually, we have been speaking to God as followers of Christ. But, my friends, we did it all for your good.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v47_12_20"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.20" class="v47_12_20">20</span>I am afraid when I come, we won't be pleased with each other. I fear that some of you may be arguing or jealous or angry or selfish or gossiping or insulting each other. I even fear that you may be proud and acting like a mob. </span><span class="v47_12_21"><span class="reftext" id="2Cor.12.21" class="v47_12_21">21</span>I am afraid God will make me ashamed when I visit you again. I will feel like crying because many of you have never given up your old sins. You are still doing things that are immoral, indecent, and shameful.</span></p> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.4 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">paradise: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, this word is used for the Garden of Eden. In New Testament times it was sometimes used for the place where God's people are happy and at rest, as they wait for the final judgment.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.7 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Of course … too proud: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “Because of the wonderful things I saw, one of Satan's angels was sent to make me suffer terribly, so I would not feel too proud.”</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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