^{1 Ref} It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

^{2 Ref} 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 Ref} How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

^{5 Ref} Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

^{6 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

^{9 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

^{13 Ref} 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 Ref} Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

^{15 Ref} And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

^{16 Ref} But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

^{17 Ref} Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

^{18 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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.

^{1 Ref} To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

^{2 Ref} I have known a man in Christ, fourteen years ago -- whether in the body I have not known, whether out of the body I have not known, God hath known -- such an one being caught away unto the third heaven;

³ and I have known such a man -- whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God hath known, --

^{4 Ref} that he was caught away to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for man to speak.

^{5 Ref} Of such an one I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities,

^{6 Ref} for if I may wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for truth I will say; but I forebear, lest any one in regard to me may think anything above what he doth see me, or doth hear anything of me;

^{7 Ref} and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch.

^{8 Ref} Concerning this thing thrice the Lord did I call upon, that it might depart from me,

^{9 Ref} and He said to me, `Sufficient for thee is My grace, for My power in infirmity is perfected;' most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:

^{10 Ref} wherefore I am well pleased in infirmities, in damages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses -- for Christ; for whenever I am infirm, then I am powerful;

^{11 Ref} I have become a fool -- boasting; ye -- ye did compel me; for I ought by you to have been commended, for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles -- even if I am nothing.

^{12 Ref} The signs, indeed, of the apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds,

^{13 Ref} for what is there in which ye were inferior to the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this injustice!

^{14 Ref} Lo, a third time I am ready to come unto you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I seek not yours, but you, for the children ought not for the parents to lay up, but the parents for the children,

^{15 Ref} and I most gladly will spend and be entirely spent for your souls, even if, more abundantly loving you, less I am loved.

^{16 Ref} And be it `so', I -- I did not burden you, but being crafty, with guile I did take you;

^{17 Ref} any one of those whom I have sent unto you -- by him did I take advantage of you?

^{18 Ref} I entreated Titus, and did send with `him' the brother; did Titus take advantage of you? in the same spirit did we not walk? -- did we not in the same steps?

^{19 Ref} Again, think ye that to you we are making defence? before God in Christ do we speak; and the all things, beloved, `are' for your up-building,

^{20 Ref} for I fear lest, having come, not such as I wish I may find you, and I -- I may be found by you such as ye do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, evil-speakings, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections,

^{21 Ref} lest again having come, my God may humble me in regard to you, and I may bewail many of those having sinned before, and not having reformed concerning the uncleanness, and whoredom, and lasciviousness, that they did practise.

^{1 Ref} It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

^{2 Ref} 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.

³ I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don't know; God knows),

^{4 Ref} how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

^{5 Ref} On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

^{6 Ref} For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I forbear, so that no man may account of me above that which he sees in me, or hears from me.

^{7 Ref} By 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 buffet me, that I should not be exalted excessively.

^{8 Ref} Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

^{9 Ref} He 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.

^{10 Ref} Therefore 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.

^{11 Ref} 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.

^{12 Ref} Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.

^{13 Ref} For 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.

^{14 Ref} Behold, 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.

^{15 Ref} I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?

^{16 Ref} But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.

^{17 Ref} Did I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you?

^{18 Ref} 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?

^{19 Ref} Again, 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.

^{20 Ref} For 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;

^{21 Ref} that 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.