| 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 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 knoweth ;) |
| 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 mine 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 [that] he heareth of 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 unto 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 of you : for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles , though I be 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 it wherein ye were inferior to other churches , except [it be] 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 be 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 unto 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 unto you ? we speak before God in Christ : but [we do] all things , dearly beloved , for your edifying . |
| 20 | For I fear , lest , when I come , I shall not find you such as I would , and [that] I shall be found unto 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 will humble me among you , and [that] I shall bewail many which have sinned already , and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed . |
