¹ Indeed, it is not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

² I know a man in Christ fourteen years before (whether in the body, I do not know; or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows) such a one was caught up to the third Heaven.

³ And I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows),

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

⁵ I will glory of such a one, yet I will not boast on my behalf, except in my weaknesses.

⁶ For if I desire to boast, I shall not be foolish. For I will speak the truth. But I spare, lest anyone should think of me as being beyond what he sees me, or hears of me;

⁷ and by the surpassing revelations, lest I not be made haughty, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be made haughty.

⁸ For this thing I besought the Lord three times, that it might depart from me.

⁹ And He 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 overshadow me.

¹⁰ Therefore I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am powerful.

¹¹ I have become foolish boasting. You compelled me. For I ought to be commended by you. For I lacked nothing of the highest apostles, though I am nothing.

¹² Truly the signs of the apostles were worked out among you in all patience, in miracles and in wonders, and by works of power.

¹³ For what is it in which you were inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong.

¹⁴ Behold, a third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not burden you, for I do not seek your things, but you. For the children ought not to lay up treasure for the parents, but the parents for the children.

¹⁵ And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls, even if loving you more and more, I am loved the less.

¹⁶ But let it be so, I did not burden you. But being crafty, I caught you with bait.

¹⁷ By any whom I have sent to you, did I overreach you by him?

¹⁸ I begged Titus and sent with him the brother. Did Titus overreach you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

¹⁹ Again, do you think we are defending to you? We speak before God in Christ, but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your building up.

²⁰ For I fear, lest somehow coming I might not find you as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you might not wish; lest somehow there be strifes, envyings, angers, contentions, backbitings, whisperings, proud thoughts, tumults;

²¹ lest in my coming again my God will humble me with you; and I shall mourn many who have already sinned, and not repenting over the uncleanness, and fornication, and lustfulness which they have practiced.