12Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions^aa and revelations^ab of the Lord. ²I know a man in Christ who was caught up^ac to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows. ³I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know; God knows—⁴was caught up into paradise^ad and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak. ⁵I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.

⁶For if I want to boast, I wouldn’t be a fool, because I would be telling the truth.^ae But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, ⁷especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh^af was given to me, a messenger of Satan^ag to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. ⁸Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. ⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power^ah is perfected in weakness.”^ai

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. ¹⁰So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ.^a For when I am weak, then I am strong.^b

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2 Corinthians 12:9: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Cross references

aa Lk 1:22
ab 1Pt 4:13
ac 1Th 4:17
ad Lk 23:43
ae Ps 119:142; Jn 8:14; 14:6; 2Co 11:10; 1Jn 5:20; 3Jn 3
af Nm 33:55; Ezk 28:24; Php 3:3
ag Mt 4:1,10; Ac 13:10
ah Mk 5:30; Lk 1:35; 6:19; Ac 19:11; 2Co 13:4; Rv 11:17
ai Is 40:29–31; 1Co 2:5; Php 4:13
a Mt 5:11–12; Rm 5:3; 2Co 13:4
b Eph 6:10