Modern Literal Version
[2 Corinthians 1]


     1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God and Timothy our brother, to the congregation of God which is in Corinth, with all the holy-ones who are in all of Achaia: 1:2 grace to you* and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


     1:3 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of the mercies and God of all encouragement is gracious*; 1:4 who is encouraging us in our every affliction, *that* we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction, through the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. 1:5 Because as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, so our encouragement also abounds through Christ. 1:6 But whether we are afflicted, it is on behalf of your* encouragement and salvation; which is working in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also are suffering, whether we are encouraged, it is on behalf of your* encouragement and salvation. And our hope is steadfast on your* behalf; 1:7 knowing that, as you* are partners of the sufferings, so you* are also of the comfort. 1:8 For* brethren, we do not wish you* to be ignorant in regard to our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were burdened down surpassingly, beyond our power, so-that we despaired even of life. 1:9 But, we ourselves have had the condemnation of death in ourselves, that* we should not have confidence in ourselves, but in God, who lifts up the dead. 1:10 He rescued us out of so-great a death and is rescuing us; in whom we have hoped that he will also still rescue us. 1:11 You* are also working together by your* supplication on our behalf; that* the gift* to us from {F} many might be a thanksgiving through many people on our behalf.


     1:12 For* this is our boasting, the testimony of our conscience, that in clarity and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we conducted ourselves in the world and even-more toward you*. 1:13 For* we are writing no other things to you*, but what you* are reading or even recognizing. Now I hope you* will fully know these things we write to the end; 1:14 as you* also recognized us in part, that we are your* boasting, just-as you* are also ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.


     1:15 And in this confidence, I intended to come to you* beforehand, that* you* might have a second favor from me; 1:16 and through you* to go through Macedonia, and from Macedonia to come to you* again and to be sent onward to Judea by you*. 1:17 Therefore while I was intending this, I did not consequently use fickleness, did I? Or what I will, do I will them according to the flesh, that* there should be with me the yes, yes and the no, no? 1:18 But as God is faithful, our word toward you* did not become yes and no. 1:19 For* the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you* through us, that is through me and Silvanus and Timothy, did not become yes and no, but in him became yes. 1:20 For* as many things as are the promises of God, in him is the yes and in him is the amen, for glory to God through us. 1:21 Now he who is confirming us with you* in Christ and anointed us is God, 1:22 who also sealed us and gave us the down-payment of the Spirit in our hearts.


     1:23 Now I call God as a witness upon my soul, that to spare you*, I came to Corinth no more. 1:24 Not that we have lordship over your* faith, but are fellow workers of your* joy; for* you* stand fast in the faith.


{Footnotes: 1:11 Lit: many faces; i.e. many mouths.}


[2 Corinthians 2]


     2:1 But I decided this for myself, that I wished not to come to you* again with sorrow. 2:2 For* if I make you* sorry, who is it who also makes me joyous except he who is made sorry from me? 2:3 And I wrote this same thing to you*, that*, having come, I might not have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you* all, that my joy is the joy of you* all. 2:4 For* I wrote to you* out of great affliction and dismay of heart with many tears; not that* you* should be made sorry, but that you* may know the love* that I have even-more toward you*.


     2:5 But if anyone has caused-sorrow, he has not caused-sorrow to me, (that* I may not burden him), but in part to you* all. 2:6 Sufficient to such a one is this penalty which was inflicted by the many; 2:7 so-that you*, rather instead, forgive* him and encourage him, lest such a one might be swallowed up with his sorrow even-more. 2:8 Hence I encourage you* to validate your* love* toward him. 2:9 For* I even wrote *for this reason; that* I might know the trial of you*, if you* are obedient in all things. 2:10 But to whom you* forgive* anything, I also forgive*. For* what I have also forgiven*, (him of whom I have forgiven* is because of you*), I have forgiven* in the presence of Christ; 2:11 that* we should not be taken-advantage of by Satan; for* we are not ignorant of his devices.


     2:12 Now when I came to Troas *for the good-news of Christ and when a door was opened to me in the Lord, 2:13 I had no relief in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but bidding farewell to them, I went forth into Macedonia.


     2:14 Now gratitude to God, who always makes us triumph in Christ and the aroma of his knowledge in every place is manifest through us. 2:15 Because we are a sweet-fragrance of Christ to God, in those who are saved and in those who perish; 2:16 to the one an aroma from death to death; but to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is sufficient in these things? 2:17 For* we are not as the rest who are peddling the word of God; but as from sincerity, but as from God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.


[2 Corinthians 3]


     3:1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? As if we do not need, as some, letters of commendation to you* or ones of commendation from you*? 3:2 You* are our letter, inscribed in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3:3 being manifested that you* are a letter of Christ, who are served by us, not inscribed with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets of fleshly hearts. 3:4 And we have such confidence through Christ toward God; 3:5 not that we are sufficient from ourselves, to reason anything as out of ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; 3:6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant*; not of the writing, but of the Spirit; for* the writing kills, but the Spirit gives-life. 3:7 But if the service of death, by writings having been engraved in stones, happened with glory, so-that the sons of Israel could not stare at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which was being done-away-with. 3:8 How will the service of the Spirit not rather be with glory? 3:9 For* if the service of condemnation has glory, how much rather is the service of righteousness abounding in glory. 3:10 For* even what has also been made glorious, has not been made glorious in this respect, because of the glory which surpasses it. 3:11 For* if what was being done-away was with glory, what remains is much more in glory.

     3:12 Therefore having such a hope, we are using great boldness, 3:13 and are not just-as Moses, who placed a veil upon his face, that the sons of Israel might not stare at the end of what was being done-away-with. 3:14 But their minds were hardened; for* until this day, the same veil remains upon the public-reading of the old covenant*, not being unveiled, which is done-away in Christ. 3:15 But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil is laying upon their heart. 3:16 But whenever one has turned to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 3:18 But we all, with an unveiled face, see the reflection of the glory of the Lord, and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just-as from the Lord, the Spirit.


[2 Corinthians 4]


     4:1 Therefore seeing we have this service, just-as we have been shown-mercy, we are not depressed. 4:2 But we have scoffed at the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor adulterating the word of God; but by the manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 4:3 And even if our good-news is covered, it is covered among those who are perishing, 4:4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, *that* the illumination of the good-news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn for them. 4:5 For* we are not preaching ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord and ourselves as your* bondservants because of Jesus. 4:6 Because it is God, who said, ‘Illumination shine’ {Gen. 1:3} out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.


     4:7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that* the excellence of the power may be from God and not from ourselves. 4:8 We are pressed in every way, but not distressed; perplexed, but not despairing; 4:9 pursued, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 4:10 always carrying around in the body the death of the Lord Jesus, that* the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. 4:11 For* we who live are habitually given up to death because of Jesus, that* the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. 4:12 So-then indeed, death is working in us, but life in you*. 4:13 But having the same spirit of the faith, according to what has been written, ‘I believed and hence I spoke.’ {Ps. 116:10} We also believe and hence we also speak; 4:14 knowing that he who lifted up the Lord Jesus will also lift us up through Jesus and will present us with you*. 4:15 For* all things are because of you*, in order that the grace that is increasing through the many, may cause the thanksgiving abound to the glory of God.


     4:16 Hence we are not depressed; but even if the outward man is decaying, but yet our inward man is renewed day in and day out. 4:17 For* the momentary light weight of our affliction, is working for us a surpassingly-better eternal weight of glory; 4:18 because we are not noting the things which are seen, but note the things which are not seen; for* the things which are seen are temporary; but the things which are not seen are eternal. [2 Corinthians 5] 5:1 For* we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle should be torn-down, we have a building from God, a house not made* with hands, eternal in the heavens. 5:2 For* indeed we are groaning in this house, longing to be clothed with our house which is from heaven; 5:3 if indeed also being clothed, we will not be found naked. 5:4 For* indeed we who are in this tabernacle are groaning, being burdened; since we do not wish to be stripped, but to be clothed, that* the mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5:5 Now God is the one who worked us *for this same thing, who also gave to us the down-payment of the Spirit. 5:6 Therefore we are always being courageous and knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are away from home away from the Lord 5:7 (for* we are walking in faith, not through sight). 5:8 But we are courageous and are delighted rather to be away from home, away from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 5:9 Hence we also make it our aim to be well pleasing to him, whether at home, or away from home. 5:10 For* we must all be made manifest in front of the judgment-seat of Christ; that* each one may get back the things done in the body, for what he practiced, whether good or evil.


     5:11 Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we are persuading men, but we are made manifest to God, and I hope that we are also made manifest in your* consciences. 5:12 For* we are not again commending ourselves to you*, but we are giving you* a starting-point of boasting on our behalf, in order that* you* may have an answer for those who boast in countenance and not in heart. 5:13 For* whether we are crazy, it is to God; or whether we are sensible, it is for you*. 5:14 For* the love* of Christ is holding us together with him, having judged this: that one died on behalf of all, consequently, all died; 5:15 and he died on behalf of all, that* those who are living should no longer live to themselves, but to him who died and rose again on behalf of them. 5:16 So-then from hereafter we know no one according to the flesh; but even if we have known Christ according to the flesh, but now we know him as such no more. 5:17 So-then if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 5:18 But all things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ and gave the service of reconciliation to us; 5:19 as that, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ not counting to them their trespasses and having placed the word of reconciliation with us. 5:20 Therefore we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ; God is encouraging you* through us. We beseech you* on behalf of Christ, you* be reconciled to God. 5:21 For* him who knew no sin, he was made* the sin offering on our behalf; that* we might become the righteousness of God in him. [2 Corinthians 6] 6:1 And working together with him, we also encourage you* that you* do not accept the grace of God in vain; 6:2 (for* he says, ‘I heard you at an acceptable time and I helped you in a day of salvation;’ {Is. 49:8} behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation), 6:3 giving no one a stumbling block in anything, that* our service might not be blamed. 6:4 But we are commending ourselves in everything, as servants of God: in much endurance, in afflictions, in calamities, in distresses, 6:5 in lashes, in prisons, in unrest, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fasts; 6:6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love* without hypocrisy, 6:7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; through the weapon of righteousness, of the right and of the left, 6:8 through glory and dishonor, through defamation and good-repute; as misleaders and yet true; 6:9 as being ignorant and yet fully know; as dying and behold, we live; as disciplined and yet not put to death; 6:10 as sorrowful, yet even habitually rejoicing; as poor, yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet having all things.


     6:11 Our mouth is open to you*, O Corinthians, our heart is widened. 6:12 You* are not distressed by us, but you* are distressed by your* own affections, 6:13 but the same as recompense, (I speak to you as to my children). You* also be widened in your* heart.


     6:14 Do not become unequally yoked with unbelievers; for* what partnership has righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness? 6:15 And what agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 6:16 And what alliance has a temple of God with idols? For* you* are a temple of the living God; just-as God said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God and they will be a people to me.’ 6:17 Hence ‘Come out from the midst of them and be separate*,’ says the Lord, ‘And touch no unclean thing, and I will accept you* 6:18 and will be a Father to you* and you* will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.’ {Lev. 26:11-12; 2Sam. 7:7, 14; Is. 52:11; Jer. 32:38, 51:45; Ezek. 20:34, 41, 37:27; Amos 4:13} [2 Corinthians 7] 7:1 Therefore beloved, having these promises, we should cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.


     7:2 Make room for us: we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took-advantage of no one. 7:3 I am not saying this toward your* condemnation; for* I have said before, that you* are in our hearts, *that* we may die together and we may live together. 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you*, great is my boasting on your* behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all our affliction.


     7:5 For* even when we had come into Macedonia our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted in every way; outside were quarrels, inside were fears. 7:6 But God, who encourages the humble, encouraged us by the presence of Titus; 7:7 and not only by his presence, but also by the encouragement with which he was encouraged in you*, while reporting to us your* longing, your* anguish, your* zeal on my behalf; so-that I rejoiced yet more. 7:8 Because even if I made you* sorry with my letter, I am not regretting it; even if I did regret it. For* I see that the letter made you* sorry, even if but for a season. 7:9 I now rejoice, not that you* were made sorry, but that you* were made sorry to repentance; for* you* were made sorry according to the will of God, in order that you* might suffer-damage in nothing from us. 7:10 For* the sorrow that is according to the will of God is working unregrettable repentance *for salvation; but the sorrow of the world is working death. 7:11 For* behold how much diligence this thing, (your* being sorry according to the will of God), has worked in you*: a defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, vengeance! In everything you* commend yourselves to be pure in the matter. 7:12 Consequently, if I also wrote to you*, I did not write because of he who did wrong, nor because of he who had been wronged, but because of your* diligent-aid on our behalf might be made manifest to you* in the sight of God. 7:13 Because of this we have been comforted in your* comfort, we rejoiced even-more upon the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been given-rest by all of you*. 7:14 Because if I have boasted in anything on your* behalf to him, I was not ashamed; but as we spoke all things to you* in truth, so also, our boasting which was before Titus became truth. 7:15 And his affection is even-more toward you*, while he is remembering the obedience of you* all, how with fear and trembling you* accepted him. 7:16 I rejoice that in everything I have courage in you*.


[2 Corinthians 8]


     8:1 Now brethren, we are making known to you* the grace of God which has been given in the congregations of Macedonia; 8:2 because the abundance of their joy in much trial of affliction and in their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality. 8:3 Because according to their power, I testify, and yet beyond their power, they gave of their own accord. 8:4 They were beseeching from us, with much pleading, to help in the favor and the fellowship of the service of relief to the holy-ones; 8:5 and, not only as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us through the will of God. 8:6 *That* we might encourage Titus, that* just-as he made a beginning before, so he might also finish this grace in you*. 8:7 But as you* are abounding in everything, in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all diligence and in the love* from you* to us, see that* you* also may abound in this grace. 8:8 I do not speak according to commandment, but I am proving the genuineness of your* love* through the diligence of others. 8:9 For* you* know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet he became-poor because of you*, that* you* might be enriched through his poverty. 8:10 And I give my viewpoint in this; for* this is advantageous for you*, who were the first to make a beginning from the past-year, not only the doing of this, but also the will to do it. 8:11 But now also finish the doing of it; *that just-as there was the eagerness to wish it, so there may also be the finishing of it out of what you* have. 8:12 For* if the eagerness lays before you*, according to whatever someone has, it is acceptable, not according to what he does not have. 8:13 For* I do not say that* there should be relief to others but affliction to you*; but from equality, your* abundance in this current time is *for their lack, 8:14 that* their abundance may also be *for your* lack, *that there may be equality, 8:15 as it has been written, ‘He who gathered much had no increase, and he who gathered little had no less.’ {Ex. 16:18}


     8:16 But gratitude is to God, who is giving the same diligent-aid into the heart of Titus on behalf of you*. 8:17 Because he indeed accepted our encouragement; but being* more diligent, he went forth to you* of his own accord. 8:18 And we have sent the brother with him whose praise in the good-news is known through all the congregations; 8:19 and not only this, but also, having been assigned by the congregations as our traveling-associate with this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our eagerness. 8:20 We are avoiding this, lest anyone might blame us in the matter of this lavish donation which is served by us; 8:21 planning-for good things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 8:22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, by the great confidence which he has in you*. 8:23 If anyone inquires in regard to Titus, whether our brethren, the ambassadors* of the congregations (the glory of Christ)– he is my partner and my fellow worker *for you*. 8:24 Therefore you* show to them, the example of your* love* and of our boasting on your* behalf, in the face of the congregations.


[2 Corinthians 9]


     9:1 For* concerning the relief service *for the holy-ones, it is superfluous for me to write to you*: 9:2 for* I know your* eagerness, of which I am boasting on your* behalf to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been prepared in the past-year, and the zeal from you* has stimulated most of them. 9:3 But I have sent the brethren, that* our boasting on your* behalf may not be made void in this respect; that*, just-as I said, you* may have been prepared; 9:4 lest, if any Macedonians come with me and might find you* unprepared, we (that* we should not say, you*) should be ashamed in this firmness of boasting. 9:5 Therefore I deemed it necessary to encourage the brethren, that* they should go beforehand to you* and should prearrange your* proclaimed {F} bounty. That this is to be ready, as a {F} bounty and not as something from greed. 9:6 But I say this, He who is sowing sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who is sowing upon his {F} bounty will also reap upon his {F} bounty. 9:7 Let each man give just-as he proposes in his heart; not out of sorrow or out of <f> necessity; for* God loves* a joyful giver. 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you*; that* having all self-sufficiency in everything, you* may always abound to every good work; 9:9 as it has been written, ‘He has scattered them, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.’{Ps. 112:9} 9:10 And he who is supplying seed to the sower and bread *for food, may supply and may multiply your* seed and cause the growth of the fruits of your* righteousness. 9:11 You* are enriched in everything to all liberality, which is working through us thanksgiving to God. 9:12 Because the service of this ministry* not only is replenishing the lacks of things of the holy-ones, but is also abounding through many thanksgivings to God; 9:13 because through the trial of you* from this service they are glorifying God upon the subjection of your* confession to the good-news of Christ and at the liberality of your* generosity toward them and toward all; 9:14 and in their supplication on your* behalf, a longing for you* because of the surpassing grace of God upon you*. 9:15 But gratitude is to God for his indescribable gift.


    {Footnotes: 2Co 9:5-6 Elsewhere ‘blessing’. 2Co 9:7 Or maybe: compulsion. * is our universal footnoting for words contained in the Appendix. These words are NOT the same Greek word as the non-asterisk form; i.e. *for is different from for* is different from for.}


[2 Corinthians 10]


     10:1 Now I, Paul, myself, encourage you* through the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who when face to face am humble among you*, but being absent am courageous toward you*. 10:2 Now I beseech you*, that being present, I may not need to be courageous with the confidence with which I reason to be daring toward some, (those who reason of us as if we walked according to the flesh). 10:3 For* although we are walking in the flesh, we are not warring according to the flesh. 10:4 For* the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but are mighty with God, toward the demolition of strongholds, 10:5 demolishing evil reasonings and every exalted thing that is lifting itself up against the knowledge of God and capturing every device of Satan to the obedience of Christ; 10:6 and having in readiness to avenge all disobedience*, whenever your* obedience is fulfilled.

     10:7 Are you* looking at these according to their countenance? If anyone has confidence in himself that he is Christ's, let him count this again from within himself, that, just-as he is Christ's, so are we also Christ’s. 10:8 For* even if I am boasting even-more of anything concerning our authority (which the Lord gave to us *for your* building up and not *for your* demolition), I will not be ashamed; 10:9 that* I may not seem as if I wished to make you* fearful through my letters. 10:10 Because indeed he says, The letters are weighty and strong; but the body’s presence is weak and the speech has been nothing. 10:11 Let such a one count this, that, such-as we are in word through letters when we are absent, such will we also be in works, when we are present. 10:12 For* we are not daring to class or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves; but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding. 10:13 Now we will not boast in the immeasurable things, but according to the measure of the standard* which the God of measure divided to us which is able to reach even to you*. 10:14 For* we do not overstretch ourselves, as though we are not reaching toward you*; {F} for* we attained even to you* in the good-news of Christ. 10:15 We were not boasting in the immeasurable things, (that is in another's labors); but having hope that as your* faith grows, we will be magnified by you*, according to our standard*, *for abundance, 10:16 reaching out to proclaim the good-news to what lies past you* and not to boast in the things prepared in another's standard*. 10:17 But he who is boasting, let him boast in the Lord. 10:18 For* he who commends himself is not approved after being tested, but whom the Lord is commending.


    {Footnotes: 2Co 10:14 Or: for* even as far as you, we arrived with the good-news. }


[2 Corinthians 11]


     11:1 I wish-that you* would tolerate me in a little foolishness; but even as you* are tolerating other things from me. 11:2 For* I am jealous over you* with a godly jealousy; for* I espoused you* to one husband, to present you* as a pure virgin to Christ. 11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in its craftiness, so your* minds might be corrupted from the clarity and the purity that is leading to Christ. 11:4 For* if he who comes, is preaching another Jesus, whom we did not preach or if you* accept a different spirit, which you* did not receive or a different good-news, which you* did not accept, you* were tolerating him well. 11:5 For* I reason to have fallen-short in nothing compared to the preeminent apostles. 11:6 But even if I am unskilled in speech, but nevertheless I am not in knowledge! In every thing, we have made this manifest to you* in all things. 11:7 Or did I practice some sin in humbling myself that* you* might be exalted, because I proclaimed freely the good-news of God to you*? 11:8 I robbed other congregations, taking compensation from them for a service to you*. 11:9 And being present with you* and falling-short, I did not encumber anyone; for* the brethren who came from Macedonia, replenished my lack of things and in everything I kept and will keep myself unburdensome to you*. 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, that this boasting will not be sealed up in me in the districts of Achaia. 11:11 Why? Because I do not love* you*? God knows I do. 11:12 But what I am doing, I will also continue to be doing it in order that I may cut off the starting-point from those who wish for a starting-point in order that they may be found just-as we in what they are boasting. 11:13 For* such men are false apostles, workers of treachery, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. 11:14 And it is no marvelous thing; for* even Satan fashions himself into a messenger of light. 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his servants also fashion themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.


     11:16 I say again, not anyone should think me to be foolish; otherwise, (even if as foolish), accept me that* I may also boast a little. 11:17 That which I speak in this firmness of boasting, I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness. 11:18 Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I will also boast. 11:19 For* you*, being so prudent, are tolerating the foolish gladly. 11:20 For* you* tolerate it, if anyone is enslaving you*, if anyone is devouring you*, if anyone is taking from you*, if anyone is lifting himself up, if anyone is whipping you* upon the face. 11:21 I speak according to our dishonor, as though we were weak. Yet in what anyone may be daring (I speak in foolishness), I am also daring. 11:22 Are they Hebrews? I also. Are they Israelites? I also. Are they the seed of Abraham? I also. 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I speak, as if having insanity) I am beyond them; in labors even-more, in lashes surpassingly, in prisons even-more, in deaths often. 11:24 Five times, I received forty lashes except one by the Jews. 11:25 I was lashed with rods three times. I was stoned once. I was shipwrecked three times. I have been a night and a day in the depth of the sea; 11:26 often in journeys, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own race, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils by false brethren; 11:27 in labor and hardship, often in sleeplessness, in famine and thirst, often in fasts, in cold and nakedness. 11:28 Plus there are those things which are outside, my daily pressure which is my anxiety for all the congregations. 11:29 Who is weak and I am not weak? Who is offended and I am not inflamed? 11:30 If it is essential for me to be boasting, I will boast in the things which are from my weakness. 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is gracious* forever, knows that I am not lying. 11:32 In Damascus the Ethnarch of Aretas, the king, guarded the Damascenes’ city wishing to arrest me; 11:33 and I was lowered through a window in a hamper and through the wall and escaped his hands.


[2 Corinthians 12]

     12:1 It is not advantageous for me to boast! For* I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 12:2 I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years before, (whether in the body, I do not know or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows), such a one was seized up to the third heaven. 12:3 And I know such a man (whether in the body or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows), 12:4 that he was taken away into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not legal for man to utter. 12:5 I will boast on behalf of such a one; but I will not boast on my own behalf, except in my weaknesses. 12:6 For* if I wish to boast, I will not be foolish; for* I will speak the truth; but I am refraining because no one should reason of me beyond what he sees from me or hears anything out of me. 12:7 And, in order that I should not promote myself by the excellence of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan that* it might batter me, that* I should not promote myself. 12:8 I pleaded with the Lord three times in regard to this thing, that* it might withdraw from me. 12:9 And he has said to me, My grace is enough for you; for* my power is perfected in weakness. Therefore I will rather gladly boast in my weaknesses, that* the power of Christ might reside upon me. 12:10 Hence I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions, in distresses, on behalf of Christ; for* when I may be weak, then I am strong.


     12:11 I have become a boasting fool. You* urged me to it. For* I ought to have been commended by you*; for* I fell-short in nothing over those preeminent apostles, even if I am nothing. 12:12 Indeed the signs of an apostle were worked among you* in all endurance, in signs and wonders and miracles. 12:13 For* in what is it that you* were lesser, over the rest of the congregations, except in that I myself did not lazily-burden you*? Forgive* me this unrighteousness!


     12:14 Behold, I am ready to come to you* the third time, and I will not lazily-burden you*; for* I am not seeking what is yours*, but you*; for* the children ought not to store up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 12:15 And I will gladly spend and be utterly spent on behalf of your* souls; even if, when loving* you* even-more, means I am loved* even-less. 12:16 But let it be so, nevertheless, I did not burden you*; but, being* crafty, I took you* with treachery. 12:17 By anyone whom I have sent to you*, did I take-advantage of you* through him? 12:18 I encouraged Titus and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take-advantage of any of you*? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same footprints?


     12:19 Again, do you* think that we are defending ourselves to you*? We speak in Christ in the sight of God. But beloved, all things are on behalf of your* building up. 12:20 For* I fear, lest, when I come, I should find you* such-as I do not will and I myself might be found by you* such-as you* do not will; lest there should be strifes, jealousies, wrath, selfish ambitions, slander, malicious whisperers, arrogance, unrests; 12:21 lest again when I come my God will humble me before you* and I might mourn for many of those who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and unbridled-lusts which they practiced.


[2 Corinthians 13]


     13:1 This will be the third time I am coming to you*. (Upon the mouth of two or three witnesses every word will be established.) {Deut. 19:15} 13:2 I have told you* beforehand and I do say again like beforehand, being present the second time and so being absent now, I am writing to warn those who have sinned before and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare them, 13:3 since you* are seeking proof of Christ speaking in me; who is not weak toward you*, but is mighty in you*. 13:4 For* even if he was crucified out of weakness, but yet he is living out of the power of God. For* we are also weak in him, but yet we will live with him out of the power of God toward you*. 13:5 Test yourselves, if you* are in the faith. Prove yourselves. Or do you* not fully know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you*? Lest you* are unapproved! 13:6 But I hope that you* will know that we are not unapproved. 13:7 Now I pray to God that you* do no evil; not that* we may appear proven, but that* you* may do what is good, but even if we may be as unapproved. 13:8 For* we can do nothing against the truth, but can on behalf of the truth. 13:9 For* we rejoice, when we may be weak, but you* may be mighty. We are also praying for this: your* perfecting. 13:10 Because of this, I am writing these things while being absent, that* I may not need to treat you* sharply being present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me *for building up and not *for demolition.


     13:11 Furthermore brethren, farewell. Be perfected; be comforted; be mindful of the same thing; be at peace and the God of love* and peace will be with you*. 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13:13 All the holy-ones greet you*. 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love* of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, is with you* all.

     Amen.





Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1999, 2014 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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