2Cor.12.11

All the signs that mark a true apostle were in evidence while I was with you through both good times and bad: signs of portent, signs of wonder, signs of power.

2Cor.12.11

I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.

2Cor.12.11

I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.

2Cor.12.11

You have made me act like a fool--boasting like this. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these "super apostles," even though I am nothing at all.

2Cor.12.12

Did you get less of me or of God than any of the other churches? The only thing you got less of was less responsibility for my upkeep. Well, I'm sorry. Forgive me for depriving you.

2Cor.12.12

The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance.

2Cor.12.12

Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

2Cor.12.12

When I was with you, I certainly gave you every proof that I am truly an apostle, sent to you by God himself. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.

2Cor.12.13

Everything is in readiness now for this, my third visit to you. But don't worry about it; you won't have to put yourselves out. I'll be no more of a bother to you this time than on the other visits. I have no interest in what you have--only in you. Children shouldn't have to look out for their parents; parents look out for the children.

2Cor.12.13

How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

2Cor.12.13

For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

2Cor.12.13

The only thing I didn't do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong!

2Cor.12.14

I'd be most happy to empty my pockets, even mortgage my life, for your good. So how does it happen that the more I love you, the less I'm loved?

2Cor.12.14

Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

2Cor.12.14

Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

2Cor.12.14

Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don't want what you have; I want you. And anyway, little children don't pay for their parents' food. It's the other way around; parents supply food for their children.

2Cor.12.15

And why is it that I keep coming across these whiffs of gossip about how my self-support was a front behind which I worked an elaborate scam? Where's the evidence?

2Cor.12.15

So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?

2Cor.12.15

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

2Cor.12.15

I will gladly spend myself and all I have for your spiritual good, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.

2Cor.12.16

Did I cheat or trick you through anyone I sent?

2Cor.12.16

Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!

2Cor.12.16

But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning!

2Cor.12.16

Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But they still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery.

2Cor.12.17

I asked Titus to visit, and sent some brothers along. Did they swindle you out of anything? And haven't we always been just as aboveboard, just as honest?

2Cor.12.17

Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you?

2Cor.12.17

Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you?

2Cor.12.17

But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you?

2Cor.12.18

I hope you don't think that all along we've been making our defense before you, the jury. You're not the jury; God is the jury--God revealed in Christ--and we make our case before him. And we've gone to all the trouble of supporting ourselves so that we won't be in the way or get in the way of your growing up.

2Cor.12.18

I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?

2Cor.12.18

I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

2Cor.12.18

When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No, of course not! For we both have the same Spirit and walk in each other's steps, doing things the same way.

2Cor.12.19

I do admit that I have fears that when I come you'll disappoint me and I'll disappoint you, and in frustration with each other everything will fall to pieces--quarrels, jealousy, flaring tempers, taking sides, angry words, vicious rumors, swelled heads, and general bedlam.

2Cor.12.19

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.

2Cor.12.19

Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.

2Cor.12.19

Perhaps you think we are saying all this just to defend ourselves. That isn't it at all. We tell you this as Christ's servants, and we know that God is listening. Everything we do, dear friends, is for your benefit.

2Cor.12.20

I don't look forward to a second humiliation by God among you, compounded by hot tears over that crowd that keeps sinning over and over in the same old ways, who refuse to turn away from the pigsty of evil, sexual disorder, and indecency in which they wallow.

2Cor.12.20

For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

2Cor.12.20

For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;

2Cor.12.20

For I am afraid that when I come to visit you I won't like what I find, and then you won't like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfishness, backstabbing, gossip, conceit, and disorderly behavior.

2Cor.12.21

I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

2Cor.12.21

I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

2Cor.12.21

lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

2Cor.12.21

Yes, I am afraid that when I come, God will humble me again because of you. And I will have to grieve because many of you who sinned earlier have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.