2 CORINTHIANS 12 [†]I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and  x revelations of the Lord. 2[†]I know a man  y in Christ who fourteen years ago was  z caught up to  a the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know,  b God knows. 3And I know that this man was caught up into  c paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know,  b God knows— 4and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast,  d except of my weaknesses— 6though if I should wish to boast,  e I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7[†]So  f to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, [1]  g a thorn was given me in the flesh,  h a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8[†] i Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9[†]But he said to me,  j “My grace is sufficient for you, for  k my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that  l the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 m For the sake of Christ, then,  n I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For  o when I am weak, then I am strong.

11[†] p I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was  q not at all inferior to these super-apostles,  r even though I am nothing. 12[†] s The signs of a true apostle were performed among you  t with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13[†]For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that  u I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

14[†]Here  v for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for  w I seek not what is yours but you. For  x children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but  y parents for their children. 15 z I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If  a I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16[†]But granting that  b I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17Did I take advantage of you  c through any of those whom I sent to you? 18 d I urged Titus to go, and sent  e the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?

19[†]Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is  f in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and  g all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20[†]For I fear that perhaps  h when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21[†]I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those  i who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity,  j sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.