NET Bible
"But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit!"
— 2 Corinthians 12:16, NET Bible
“But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.”
“But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile. ”
“But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.”
“But be it so: I did not burthen you: but being crafty, I caught you by guile.”
“But let it be so, that I was not a trouble to you myself; but (someone may say) being false, I took you with deceit.”
“But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.”
For how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!
Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit!
I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I?
I urged Titus to visit you and I sent our brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way?
Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.