2COR 12:9 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance=vital (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) and he told me, “Is my grace good enough for you? My power reaches its conclusion through weakness.” Therefore I’ll quite gladly boast about my weaknesses so that the messiah’s power can take residence in me.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT But he has said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is being made perfect in weakness.” So I will most gladly boast even more in my weaknesses so that the power of Christ might reside upon me.

UST He responded by saying to me, “When I act kindly to you, that is all you need. In fact, I make people fully powerful when they are feeble.” Therefore, I will most happily say more great things about how feeble I am. That way, the Messiah will always enable me to act powerfully.

BSB But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

BLB And He said to me, "My grace suffices you, for the power is perfected in weakness." Therefore will I boast rather most gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

AICNT And he has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for [[my]][fn] power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell upon me.

12:9, the: Later manuscripts read “my.” BYZ TR

OEB But his reply has been – “My help is enough for you; for my strength attains its perfection in the midst of weakness.”
¶  Most gladly, then, will I boast all the more of my weaknesses, so that the strength of the Christ may overshadow me.

CSB 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.

NLT 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.

NIV 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.

CEV But he replied, "My gift of undeserved grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak." So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am.

ESV 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.

NASB And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

LSB And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

2DT And he has said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for the power is completed in weakness.” Therefore, instead I will boast with pleasure in my weaknesses so Christos’s power might camp on me.

WEBBE 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.

WMBB 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 Messiah may rest on me.

MSG ^(7-10)Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
* * *

NET But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.

LSV and He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness”; most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:

FBV But he told me, “My grace is all you will need, for my power is effective in weakness.” That's why I happily boast about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me.

TCNT But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for yoʋ, for [fn]my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

12:9 my ¦ — CT

T4T But he said to me, “No, I will not take this away from you. Instead, I will kindly help you, and that will be all that you need, because it is when you are weak that I can best work powerfully to help you.” So, because of what the Lord said to me, I will very gladly boast about the things that make me seem weak, so that people may realize that it is Christ who gives me power to serve him.

LEB And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because the[fn] 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.

12:9 A majority of later manuscripts read “my”

NRSV but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

NKJV And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

NAB but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.

BBE And he said to me, My grace is enough for you, for my power is made complete in what is feeble. Most gladly, then, will I take pride in my feeble body, so that the power of Christ may be on me.

Moff No Moff 2COR book available

Wymth but His reply has been, "My grace suffices for you, for power matures in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I boast of my infirmities rather than complain of them—in order that Christ's power may overshadow me.

ASV 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.

DRA And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

YLT 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:

Drby And he said to me, My grace suffices thee; for [my] power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may dwell upon me.

RV 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.

Wbstr And he said to 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.

KJB-1769 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.
(And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee/you: 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. )

KJB-1611 And he said vnto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weaknes. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest vpon me.
(And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee/you: for my strength is made perfect in weaknes. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.)

Bshps And he sayde vnto me: My grace is sufficient for thee. For my strength is made perfect in weakenesse. Most gladly therfore, I wyll rather glorie in my infirmities, that the power of Christ myght dwell in me.
(And he said unto me: My grace is sufficient for thee/you. For my strength is made perfect in weakenesse. Most gladly therefore, I will rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ might dwell in me.)

Gnva And he said vnto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect through weakenesse. Very gladly therefore will I reioyce rather in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
(And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee/you: for my power is made perfect through weakenesse. Very gladly therefore will I rejoice rather in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. )

Cvdl And he sayde vnto me: My grace is sufficiet for the. For my strength is made perfecte thorow weaknes. Very glad therfore wil I reioyse in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ maye dwell in me.
(And he said unto me: My grace is sufficiet for them. For my strength is made perfecte through weaknes. Very glad therefore will I rejoice in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may dwell in me.)

TNT And he sayde vnto me: my grace is sufficient for the. For my strength is made perfact thorow weaknes. Very gladly therfore will I reioyce of my weaknes that the strength of Christ maye dwell in me
(And he said unto me: my grace is sufficient for them. For my strength is made perfact through weaknes. Very gladly therefore will I rejoice of my weaknes that the strength of Christ may dwell in me )

Wycl And he seide to me, My grace suffisith to thee; for vertu is parfitli maad in infirmyte. Therfor gladli Y schal glorie in myn infirmytees, that the vertu of Crist dwelle in me.
(And he said to me, My grace suffisith to thee/you; for virtue is parfitli made in infirmyte. Therefore gladly I shall glory in mine infirmytees, that the virtue of Christ dwell in me.)

Luth und er hat zu mir gesagt: Laß dir an meiner Gnade genügen; denn meine Kraft ist in den Schwachen mächtig. Darum will ich mich am allerliebsten rühmen meiner Schwachheit, auf daß die Kraft Christi bei mir wohne.
(and he has to to_me said: Let you/to_you at my Gnade genügen; because my Kraft is in the Schwachen mächtig. Therefore will I me in/at/on_the allerliebsten rühmen my Schwachheit, on that the Kraft Christi at to_me wohne.)

ClVg et dixit mihi: Sufficit tibi gratia mea: nam virtus in infirmitate perficitur. Libenter igitur gloriabor in infirmitatibus meis, ut inhabitet in me virtus Christi.[fn]
(and he_said mihi: Sufficit to_you gratia mea: nam virtus in infirmitate perficitur. Libenter igitur gloriabor in infirmitatibus mine, as inhabitet in me virtus of_Christ. )

12.9 Dixit mihi. Per inspirationem, vel per angelum. Nam virtus in infirmitate perficitur. Perfectio virtutum est, quæ habet infirmitatem contrariam, cum qua legitime certet: et ideo gloriabor in infirmitatibus, non invitus, sed libens.

12.9 Dixit mihi. Per inspirationem, or through a_messenger/angel. Nam virtus in infirmitate perficitur. Perfectio virtutum it_is, which habet infirmitatem contrariam, when/with which legitime certet: and ideo gloriabor in infirmitatibus, not/no invitus, but libens.

UGNT καὶ εἴρηκέν μοι, ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου, ἡ γὰρ δύναμις ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελεῖται. ἥδιστα οὖν μᾶλλον καυχήσομαι ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις μου, ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπ’ ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
(kai eiraʸken moi, arkei soi haʸ ⱪaris mou, haʸ gar dunamis en astheneia teleitai. haʸdista oun mallon kauⱪaʸsomai en tais astheneiais mou, hina episkaʸnōsaʸ ep’ eme haʸ dunamis tou Ⱪristou.)

SBL-GNT καὶ εἴρηκέν μοι· Ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου· ἡ γὰρ ⸀δύναμις ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ ⸀τελεῖται. ἥδιστα οὖν μᾶλλον καυχήσομαι ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ⸀μου, ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
(kai eiraʸken moi; Arkei soi haʸ ⱪaris mou; haʸ gar ⸀dunamis en astheneia ⸀teleitai. haʸdista oun mallon kauⱪaʸsomai en tais astheneiais ⸀mou, hina episkaʸnōsaʸ epʼ eme haʸ dunamis tou Ⱪristou.)

TC-GNT Καὶ εἴρηκέ μοι, Ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου· ἡ γὰρ δύναμίς [fn]μου ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ [fn]τελειοῦται. Ἥδιστα οὖν μᾶλλον καυχήσομαι ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις [fn]μου, ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
(Kai eiraʸke moi, Arkei soi haʸ ⱪaris mou; haʸ gar dunamis mou en astheneia teleioutai. Haʸdista oun mallon kauⱪaʸsomai en tais astheneiais mou, hina episkaʸnōsaʸ ep eme haʸ dunamis tou Ⱪristou. )

12:9 μου ¦ — CT

12:9 τελειουται ¦ τελειται CT

12:9 μου ¦ — WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

εἴρηκέν μοι

˱he˲_/has/_said ˱to˲_me

Here Paul repeats what the Lord said in response to his prayer that the thorn and its suffering be taken away. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that introduces the answer to a question or prayer. Alternate translation: [he has answered me]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / quotations

μοι, ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου, ἡ γὰρ δύναμις ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελεῖται

˱to˲_me /is/_sufficing ˱for˲_you the grace ˱of˲_me the for power in weakness /is_being/_finished

It may be more natural in your language to have an indirect quotation here. If you use the following alternate translation, you will need to remove the quotation marks. Alternate translation: [to me that his grace is enough for me, for his power is being made perfect in weakness]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου, ἡ γὰρ δύναμις ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελεῖται

/is/_sufficing ˱for˲_you the grace ˱of˲_me the for power in weakness /is_being/_finished

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of grace, power, and weakness, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [How I act graciously is enough for you, for when people are weak, I perfect how powerfully I work through them]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

σοι

˱for˲_you

Because God is speaking to one person, Paul, the pronoun you in the quotation is singular.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἡ γὰρ δύναμις ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελεῖται

the the for power in weakness /is_being/_finished

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who does the action, it is clear from the context that it is the Lord. Alternate translation: [for I make my power perfect in weakness]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μᾶλλον & ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις μου

rather & in the weaknesses ˱of˲_me

Here, the phrase even more could indicate that Paul will: (1) boast more in his weaknesses than he has already. Alternate translation: [more than I already have in my weaknesses] (2) boast in his weaknesses rather than praying for the removal of the thorn. Alternate translation: [in my weaknesses rather than asking God to remove them] (3) boast in his weaknesses rather than in his strengths. Alternate translation: [in my weaknesses rather than in my strengths]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις μου, ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπ’ ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ

in in the weaknesses ˱of˲_me in_order_that /may/_take_residence in me the power ˱of˲_the Messiah

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of weaknesses and power, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [about how weak I am so that Christ will reside upon me to empower me] or [in how weak I am so that Christ will give his power to me]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ

the the the power ˱of˲_the Messiah

Here, Paul is using the possessive form to describe power that comes from Christ. If this is not clear in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [power from Christ]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπ’ ἐμὲ

/may/_take_residence in me

Here Paul speaks as if the power of Christ were a person who could reside in or upon Paul, who is pictured like a tent or house. He means that the power of Christ consistently becomes part of his life and is something that he can always have. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a similar figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [might live in me] or [might always be with me]

Parallel 2COR 12:9