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 knows;) such an 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 knows ;) ⁴ How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. ⁵ Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in my infirmities. ⁶ For though I would desire to glory, I will not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, in case any man should think of me above that which he sees me to be, or that he hears of+ me. ⁷ And in case 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 beat me, in case I should be exalted above measure. ⁸ For this thing I asked the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. ⁹ And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you: 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 on me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in rebukes, 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; you have compelled me: for I should to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chief apostles+ , though I be nothing. ¹² Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. ¹³ For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. ¹⁴ See, 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 should 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 be loved. ¹⁶ But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with deception. ¹⁷ Did I make a gain+ of you by any of them who 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 you that we excuse ourselves to you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. ²⁰ For I fear, in case+ , when I come, I will not find you such as I would, and that I will be found to you such as you would not: in case+ there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: ²¹ And in case, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I will bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.