1 Surely it is not expedient for me to boast: yet 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 know not, or out of the body I know not; God knoweth) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 Yea, I knew such a man (whether in the body or out of the body, I know not, God knoweth) That he was caught up into paradise,
4 and heard unspeakable things, which it is not possible for man to utter.
5 Of such an one I will glory; but I will not glory of myself, unless in my infirmities.
6 For if I should resolve to boast, I should not be a fool; for I speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any one should think of me above what he seeth me, or heareth from me.
7 And lest I should be lifted up with the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet me, lest I should be lifted up.
8 Concerning this, I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 But 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 weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I am well pleased in weaknesses, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I am become a fool in boasting; but ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you: for in nothing have I fallen short of the very chief 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 wherein were ye inferior to the other churches, unless that I myself was not burdensom to you.
14 Forgive me this wrong. Behold the third time I am ready to come to you: yet I will not be burdensom to you; for I seek not yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up treasure for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 And I will most gladly spend, and be spent for your souls, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.
16 But be it so: I did not burden you: but 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? Did we not walk in the same spirit? In the same steps?
19 Think ye that we again excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all things, beloved, for your edification.
20 For I fear lest when I come, I should not find you such as I would, and lest I should be found by you such as ye would not: lest there should be contentions, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults, Lest my God should humble me when I come to you again,
21 and I should mourn over many of them who had sinned before, and have not repented of the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, which they have committed.