| 1 | It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. |
| 2 | I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such one caught up to the third heaven. |
| 3 | And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) |
| 4 | That he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. |
| 5 | Of such one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in my infirmities. |
| 6 | For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or what he heareth from me. |
| 7 | And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. |
| 8 | For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. |
| 9 | And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. |
| 10 | Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. |
| 11 | I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you: for in nothing am I behind the very greatest apostles, though I am nothing. |
| 12 | Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. |
| 13 | For what is that in which ye were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. |
| 14 | Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. |
| 15 | And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. |
| 16 | But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. |
| 17 | Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent to you? |
| 18 | I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? |
| 19 | Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves to you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edification. |
| 20 | For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: |
| 21 | And lest, when I come again, my God may humble me among you, and I shall bewail many who have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness, and lewdness, and lasciviousness, which they have committed. |