II KORINTHIËRS 12

Die hemelse gesig en die doring in die vlees.

1 DIT is waarlik vir my nie nuttig om te roem nie, want ek sal kom tot tgesigte en topenbaringe van die Here.

2 Ek weet van ’n man tin Christus, veertien jaar gelede — of dit in die liggaam was, weet ek nie, of buite die liggaam, weet ek nie, God weet dit — dat so iemand tweggeruk is tot in tdie derde hemel.

3 En ek weet van so ’n man — of dit in die liggaam of buite die liggaam was, weet ek nie, God weet dit —

4 dat hy weggeruk is in die tParadys en onuitspreeklike woorde gehoor het wat ’n mens nie mag uitspreek nie.

5 Oor so ’n man sal ek roem, maar toor myself sal ek nie roem nie, behalwe in my swakhede.

6 Want as ek sou wil roem, tsou ek nie ’n dwaas wees nie, want ek sou die waarheid praat; maar ek laat dit ná, sodat niemand my hoër mag skat as wat hy van my sien of wat hy van my hoor nie.

7 En dat ek my oor die voortreflikheid van die topenbaringe nie sou verhef nie, is my t’n doring in die vlees gegee, ’n engel van die Satan, om my met die vuis te slaan, dat ek my nie sou verhef nie.

8 Hieroor het ek die Here drie maal gebid, dat hy van my sou wyk.

9 En Hy het vir my gesê: My genade is vir jou genoeg, want tmy krag word in swakheid volbring. Baie liewer sal ek dus in my swakhede roem, sodat die krag van Christus in my kan woon.

10 Daarom het ek tbehae in swakhede, in mishandelinge, in node, in vervolginge, in benoudhede, om Christus wil. tWant as ek swak is, dan is ek sterk.

Belangeloosheid van Paulus.

11  tAL roemende het ek dwaas geword. Julle het my daartoe genoodsaak. Want ek moes tdeur julle aanbeveel geword het; want ek thet niks by dié uitnemende apostels agtergestaan nie, al is ek niks nie.

12 Die tkentekens tog van t’n apostel is onder julle verwerklik met alle volharding deur tekens en wonders en kragtige dade.

13 Want twat is daar waarin julle oortref word deur die ander gemeentes, behalwe dat tek persoonlik julle nie lastig geval het nie? Vergeef my thierdie onreg.

14 Kyk, tvir die derde keer is ek gereed om na julle te kom; en ek sal julle nie lastig val nie, want tek soek nie julle goed nie, maar julle self; want tdit is nie die I Kor. 4:14,15kinders wat vir die ouers moet opgaar nie, maar die ouers vir die kinders.

15 En ek sal baie graag uitgee, ja, myself weggee vir julle siele, al word ek, terwyl ek julle oorvloediger liefhet, minder bemin.

16 Maar laat dit so wees! Ek het julle tnie beswaar nie, maar omdat ek slim was, het ek julle met lis gevang.

17 Het ek tmy dan ten koste van julle bevoordeel tdeur een van die wat ek na julle gestuur het?

18  tEk het Titus gevra en tdie broeder saamgestuur. Het Titus hom dan ten koste van julle bevoordeel? Het ons nie in dieselfde gees, in dieselfde spore gewandel nie?

Laaste vermaninge aan die Korinthiërs. Groete.

19 DINK julle weer dat ons ons by julle verdedig? Ons spreek in die teenwoordigheid van God in Christus, en dit alles, geliefdes, tot julle stigting.

20 Want ek vrees tdat ek julle by my koms miskien nie sal vind soos ek wens nie, en dat ek deur julle gevind sal word soos julle nie wens nie — dat daar miskien sal wees twis, jaloersheid, toornigheid, verdeeldheid, kwaadsprekery, nuusdraery, verwaandheid, wanordelikheid;
21 dat as tek gekom het, my God my miskien weer by julle sal verneder en ek sal treur oor baie van die wat vroeër gesondig het en hulle nie bekeer het van die onreinheid en thoerery en ongebondenheid wat hulle bedryf het nie.

2 Corinthians 12

1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.2 I know a man in Christ, 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.3 I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),4 how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.6 For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me.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 Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.8 Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

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 Christ may rest on me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.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 Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.

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.
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.15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?16 But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.17 Did I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you?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?19 Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.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;

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.