^12:7even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore,⁷ so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble⁸ me—so that I would not become arrogant.⁹^12:8I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. ^12:9But¹⁰ he said to me, “My grace is enough¹¹ for you, for my¹² power is made perfect¹³ in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly¹⁴ about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in¹⁵ me. ^12:10Therefore I am content with¹⁶ weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties¹⁷ for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

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2 Corinthians 12:9: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Footnotes

7 Most (𝔓46 D Ψ 1881 𝔐) lack διό (dio, “Therefore”), but the widespread distribution and quality of which include it (א A B F G 0243 33 81 1175 1739 ) argues for its authenticity. Internally, its case is equally strong in that its inclusion is grammatically rough (διό is hardly necessary to convey purpose, especially since Paul uses ἵνα [hina, “so that“] next).
8 Or “to harass.”
9 The phrase “so that I might not become arrogant” is repeated here because it occurs in the Greek text two times in the verse. Although redundant, it is repeated because of the emphatic nature of its affirmation.
10 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” because of the contrast implicit in the context.
11 Or “is sufficient.”
12 The majority of later (א2 Ac D1 Ψ 0243 0278 33 1739 1881 𝔐) as well as some versional witnesses include the pronoun “my” here, but the omission of the pronoun has excellent external support (𝔓46vid א* A* B D* F G latt). Scribes probably added the pronoun for clarity, making the obvious referent explicit. This would also make “power” more parallel with “my grace.” Though the original text probably did not include “my,” scribes who added the word were following the sense of Paul’s statement. The pronoun “my” was supplied in the translation to clarify the sense of Paul’s expression.
13 Or “my power comes to full strength.”
14 “Most gladly,” a comparative form used with superlative meaning and translated as such.
15 Or “may rest on.”
16 Or “I take delight in.”
17 Or “calamities.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

NLTNew Living Translation

even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

even because of the extraordinary degree of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, in order that it would torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would depart from me. And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because the power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore rather I will boast most gladly in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may reside in me. Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

KJV 1900King James Version

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

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