1Certainly it is not expedient for me to glory, but I will come to [the] visions and [the] revelations of the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ [who] fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell; God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. 3And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell; God knows) 4who was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5Of such a one I will glory, yet of myself I will not glory, except in my weaknesses. 6Therefore if I should desire to glory [in these things], I should not be a fool; for I would say the truth, but [now] I forbear lest anyone should think of me above that which he sees me [to be] or [that] he hears of me. 7And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me above measure, there is given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord three times that it might be taken from me. 9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather glory in my weaknesses that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore I am content in weaknesses, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then am I strong. 11I have been a fool, glorying; ye have compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you, for in nothing am I behind the grandiose apostles, though I am nothing. 12Truly the signs of the apostle were worked out among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and power. 13For what is it in which ye were inferior to the other churches except in that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. 14Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be burdensome to you, for I seek not your things, but you; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15And I will very gladly spend and be utterly spent for your souls though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. 16But be it so, I did not burden you; nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17Did I make a gain of you by any of those whom I sent unto you? 18I besought Titus and with [him] I sent a brother. Did Titus defraud you? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and in the same steps? 19Again, do ye think that we excuse ourselves unto you? We speak before God in Christ, but [we do] all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. 20For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I desire and [that] I shall be found unto you such as ye desire not, lest [there be] debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, rumours, tumults, 21lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I would have to mourn over many who have sinned already and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.: