1 T rue, there is nothing to be gained by it, but to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

I have to talk about myself, even if it does no good. But I will keep on telling about some things I saw in a special dream and that which the Lord has shown me.

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—was caught up to the third heaven.

I know a man who belongs to Christ. Fourteen years ago he was taken up to the highest heaven. (I do not know if his body was taken up or just his spirit. Only God knows.)

3 A nd I know that this man—whether in the body or away from the body I do not know, God knows—

I say it again, I know this man was taken up. But I do not know if his body or just his spirit was taken up. Only God knows.

4 W as caught up into paradise, and he heard utterances beyond the power of man to put into words, which man is not permitted to utter.

When he was in the highest heaven, he heard things that cannot be told with words. No man is allowed to tell them.

5 O f this same I will boast, but of myself (personally) I will not boast, except as regards my infirmities (my weaknesses).

I will be proud about this man, but I will not be proud about myself except to say things which show how weak I am.

6 S hould I desire to boast, I shall not be a witless braggart, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I abstain so that no one may form a higher estimate of me than what he sees in me or hears from me.

Even if I talk about myself, I would not be a fool because it is the truth. But I will say no more because I want no one to think better of me than he does when he sees or hears me.

7 A nd to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn ( a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted.

The things God showed me were so great. But to keep me from being too full of pride because of seeing these things, I have been given trouble in my body. It was sent from Satan to hurt me. It keeps me from being proud.

8 T hree times I called upon the Lord and besought about this and begged that it might depart from me;

I asked the Lord three times to take it away from me.

9 B ut He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

He answered me, “I am all you need. I give you My loving-favor. My power works best in weak people.” I am happy to be weak and have troubles so I can have Christ’s power in me.

10 S o for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak '> in human strength], then am I strong (able, powerful in divine strength).

I receive joy when I am weak. I receive joy when people talk against me and make it hard for me and try to hurt me and make trouble for me. I receive joy when all these things come to me because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

11 N ow I have been a fool! But you forced me to it, for I ought to have been '> saved the necessity and] commended by you. For I have not fallen short one bit or proved myself at all inferior to those superlative apostles, even if I am nothing (a nobody).

I have been making a fool of myself talking like this. But you made me do it. You should be telling what I have done. Even if I am nothing at all, I am not less important than those false missionaries of yours.

12 I ndeed, the signs that indicate a apostle were performed among you fully and most patiently in miracles and wonders and mighty works.

When I was with you, I proved to you that I was a true missionary. I did powerful works and there were special things to see. These things were done in the strength and power from God.

13 F or in what respect were you put to a disadvantage in comparison with the rest of the churches, unless that I myself did not burden you ? Pardon me this injustice!

What makes you feel less important than the other churches? Is it because I did not let you give me food and clothing? Forgive me for this wrong!

14 N ow for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not burden you, for it is not your that I want but you; for children are not duty bound to lay up store for their parents, but parents for their children.

This is the third time I am ready to come to you. I want nothing from you. I want you, not your money. You are my children. Children should not have to help care for their parents. Parents should help their children.

15 B ut I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your souls. If I love you exceedingly, am I to be loved the less?

I am glad to give anything I have, even myself, to help you. When I love you more, it looks as if you love me less.

16 B ut though granting that I did not burden you I was crafty I cheated and got the better of you with my trickery.

It is true that I was not a heavy load to you. But some say I set a trap for you.

17 D id I take advantage of you or make any money out of you through any of those whom I sent to you?

How could I have done that? Did I get anything from you through the men I sent to you?

18 I urged Titus, and I sent the brother with. Did Titus overreach or take advantage of you ? Did he and I not act in the same spirit? Did we not same steps?

I asked Titus and the other Christian brother to visit you. Did Titus get anything from you? Did we not do things that showed we had the same desires and followed the same plan?

19 H ave you been supposing that we have been defending ourselves and apologizing to you? in the sight and the presence of God in Christ (the Messiah) that we have been speaking, dearly beloved, and all in order to build you up.

It may look to you as if we had been trying to make everything look right for ourselves all this time. God knows and so does Christ that all this is done to help you.

20 F or I am fearful that somehow or other I may come and find you not as I desire to find you, and that you may find me too not as you want to find me—that perhaps there may be factions (quarreling), jealousy, temper (wrath, intrigues, rivalry, divided loyalties), selfishness, whispering, gossip, arrogance (self-assertion), and disorder among you.

I am afraid that when I visit you I will not find you as I would like you to be. And you will not find me as you would like me to be. I am afraid I will find you fighting and jealous and angry and arguing and talking about each other and thinking of yourselves as being too important and making trouble.

21 t hat when I come again, my God may humiliate and humble me in your regard, and that I may have to sorrow over many of those who sinned before and have not repented of the impurity, sexual vice, and sensuality which they formerly practiced.

I am afraid when I get there God will take all the pride away from me that I had for you. I will not be happy about many who have lived in sin and done sex sins and have had a desire for such things and have not been sorry for their sins and turned from them.