# 2 Corinthians 12.9 **Book:** [2 Corinthians](/codex/2-corinthians/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT ## Immediate context (±2 verses) **ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/)) > 7. And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. 8. Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. > > **9. And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.** > > 10. Wherefore 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 am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing. (2 Corinthians 12:7-11, ASV) **WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/)) > 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. (2 Corinthians 12:7-11, WEB) **KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/)) > 7. 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. 8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. > > **9. 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.** > > 10. 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. 11. I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. (2 Corinthians 12:7-11, KJV) **YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/)) > 7. and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch. 8. Concerning this thing thrice the Lord did I call upon, that it might depart from me, > > **9. and He said to me, 'Sufficient for thee is My grace, for My power in infirmity is perfected;' most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:** > > 10. wherefore I am well pleased in infirmities, in damages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ; for whenever I am infirm, then I am powerful; 11. I have become a fool, boasting; ye, ye did compel me; for I ought by you to have been commended, for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, even if I am nothing. (2 Corinthians 12:7-11, YLT) ## Setting - **Speaker:** Paul the Apostle - **Audience:** Christian believers in Corinth - **Location:** composed in Macedonia; addressed to Corinth - **Time period:** composed c. AD 56 ## Theological reading ## Key words - [G5485 - charis](/codex/g5485-charis/), *charis* (Strong's G5485). Also appears in: [Luke 1.29-38](/codex/luke-1-29-38/), [Luke 2.40](/codex/luke-2-40/), [Luke 2.52](/codex/luke-2-52/). - [G5547 - christos](/codex/g5547-christos/), *christos* (Strong's G5547). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.1](/codex/matthew-1-1/), [Matthew 1.16](/codex/matthew-1-16/), [Matthew 1](/codex/matthew-1/). ## Why these four translations ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance. The four: - **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition. - **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English. - **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base. - **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff. See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses. ## Quoted in **Arguments and defeaters:** - [Argument from Meaningful Suffering](/codex/argument-from-meaningful-suffering/), via [2 Corinthians 12.7-10](/codex/2-corinthians-12-7-10/) **Concepts:** - [Church at Corinth](/codex/church-at-corinth/) - [Pam Reynolds (NDE 1991)](/codex/pam-reynolds-nde-1991/), via [2 Corinthians 12.1-10](/codex/2-corinthians-12-1-10/) - [Prayer](/codex/prayer/), via [2 Corinthians 12.7-10](/codex/2-corinthians-12-7-10/) - [Quick Objection Responses](/codex/quick-objection-responses/) - [Survivorship Bias](/codex/survivorship-bias/), via [2 Corinthians 12.7-10](/codex/2-corinthians-12-7-10/) **Lexicon:** - [G5485 - charis](/codex/g5485-charis/)