1 B oasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

¶ 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 do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.

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 how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—

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

4 w as caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

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

5 O n behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.

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

6 F or if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. A Thorn in the Flesh

Therefore 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 B ecause of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!

And 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 C oncerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.

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

9 A nd 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.

And 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 well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Therefore 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 become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.

¶ 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 he signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.

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

13 F or in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

For 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 H ere for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

Behold, 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 I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

And 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 that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit.

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

17 C ertainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?

Did I make a gain of you by any of those whom I sent unto you?

18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?

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 ll this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.

Again, 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 am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;

For 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 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.

lest, 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.