2 Corinthians, Chapter 12

1. It is doubtless not profitable for me to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.    2. I knew a man in Christ more than fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows); such a one was 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 he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.    5. Of such a one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, except in my weaknesses.    6. For even if I desired to glory, I would not be a fool; for I would say the truth: but now I refrain, so that no one will think of me above that which he sees me to be, or that he hears of me.    7. And so that I would not be exalted beyond measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to assault me, lest I should be exalted beyond measure.    8. For this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times, 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 weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.    10. Therefore I take pleasure 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 have become a fool in glorying; you have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you: for in nothing am I behind the very chief apostles, though I am nothing.    12. Truly the signs of an apostle were done 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, unless it is 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 do not seek your possessions, 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 am loved.    16. But granting that I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.    17. Did I get a gain from you by any of those whom I sent to you?    18. I desired Titus to go, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus get a gain from you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?    19. Again, do you think 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, that, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would like, and that I shall be found by you such as you would not like: lest there be debates, envying, wrath, strife, backbiting, whispering, pride, tumults:    21. And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall mourn many who have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.