1 I t is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come 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, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows), such a one caught up into 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 I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),

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

4 h ow he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

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 one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in 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 would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me.

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 y reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.

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 thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

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

9 H e 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.

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 take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I 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 in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

¶ 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 an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.

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

13 F or what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not 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 B ehold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the 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 spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the 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 it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.

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

17 D id I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you?

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

18 I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we 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 gain, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

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 by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots;

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 t hat again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.

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.