¶ It is not expedient¹ for me doubtless to glory². I will come³ to visions and revelations of the Lord.

I knew⁴ a man in Christ⁵ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the⁷ body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God⁸ knoweth;) such an one caught¹⁰ up to the third¹¹ heaven.

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

How that he was caught up into paradise¹², and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful¹³ for a man to utter.

Of such¹⁴ an one will I glory: yet¹⁵ of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

For though I would¹⁶ desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will¹⁷ say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that¹⁸ which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

And lest¹⁹ I should be exalted above measure through the abundance²⁰ of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn²¹ in the flesh, the messenger²² of Satan to buffet²³ me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

For this thing I besought²⁴ the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

And he said unto me, My grace²⁵ is sufficient for²⁶ thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most²⁷ gladly therefore will I rather glory²⁸ in my infirmities, that the power²⁹ of Christ may rest upon me.

¶ Therefore I take³⁰ pleasure in infirmities³¹, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's³² sake: for when³³ I am weak, then am I strong.

¶ I am become³⁴ a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in³⁵ nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though³⁶ I be nothing.

³⁷Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself³⁸ was not burdensome to you? forgive³⁹ me this wrong.

Behold, the third⁴⁰ time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I⁴¹ seek not yours, but you: for the⁴² children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

And I will⁴³ very gladly spend and be spent for you⁴⁴; though⁴⁵ the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

But be it so, I did not⁴⁶ burden you: nevertheless, being⁴⁷ crafty, I caught you with guile.

⁴⁸Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

I desired Titus⁴⁹, and with⁵⁰ him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit⁵¹? walked we not in the same steps⁵²?

Again, think⁵³ ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak⁵⁴ before God in Christ: but⁵⁵ we do all things, dearly⁵⁶ beloved, for your edifying.

¶ For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not⁵⁷ find you such as I would, and that⁵⁸ I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates⁵⁹, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings⁶⁰, swellings⁶¹, tumults:

And lest, when I come again, my God⁶² will humble me among you, and that I⁶³ shall bewail many which have sinned⁶⁴ already, and have not⁶⁵ repented of the uncleanness⁶⁶ and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.