1 ¶ Certainly it is not expedient for me to glory, but I will come to the visions and the revelations of the Lord.

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell; God knows) was caught up to the third heaven.

3 A nd I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell; God knows)

4 w ho was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 O f such a one I will glory, yet of myself I will not glory, except in my weaknesses.

6 T herefore if I should desire to glory in these things, I should not be a fool; for I would say the truth, but now I forbear lest anyone should think of me above that which he sees me to be or that he hears of me.

7 A nd lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me above measure, there is given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 F or this thing I besought the Lord three times that it might be taken from me.

9 A nd he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather glory in my weaknesses that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

10 T herefore I am content in weaknesses, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake, for when I am weak, then am I strong.

11 ¶ I have been a fool, glorying; ye have compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you, for in nothing am I behind the grandiose apostles, though I am nothing.

12 T ruly the signs of the apostle were worked out among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and power.

13 F or what is it in which ye were inferior to the other congregations except in that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

14 B ehold, the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be burdensome to you, for I seek not your things, but you; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

15 A nd I will very gladly spend and be utterly spent for your souls though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

16 B ut be it so, I did not burden you; nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

17 D id I make a gain of you by any of those whom I sent unto you?

18 I besought Titus and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus defraud you? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and in the same steps?

19 A gain, do ye think that we excuse ourselves unto you? We speak before God in Christ, but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

20 F or I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I desire and that I shall be found unto you such as ye desire not, lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, rumours, tumults,

21 l est, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I would have to mourn over many who have sinned already and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.