2 Corinthians 12

Chapter 12

¹Well, it is not of profit to me to boast, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. ²I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago, (whether in the body I know not, or out of the body I know not, God knows;) such a one caught up to the third heaven. ³And I know such a man, (whether in the body or out of the body I know not, God knows;) ⁴that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable things said which it is not allowed to man to utter. ⁵Of such a one I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, unless in my weaknesses. ⁶For if I shall desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth; but I forbear, lest any one should think as to me above what he sees me to be, or whatever he may hear of me. ⁷And that I might not be exalted by the exceeding greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted. ⁸For this I thrice besought the Lord that it might depart from me. ⁹And he said to me, My grace suffices thee; for my power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may dwell upon me. ¹⁰Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in straits, for Christ: for when I am weak, then I am powerful.

¹¹I have become a fool; ye have compelled me; for I ought to have been commended by you; for I have been nothing behind those who were in surpassing degree apostles, if also I am nothing. ¹²The signs indeed of the apostle were wrought among you in all endurance, signs, and wonders, and works of power. ¹³For in what is it that ye have been inferior to the other assemblies, unless that I myself have not been in laziness a charge upon you? Forgive me this injury. ¹⁴Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be in laziness a charge; for I do not seek yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. ¹⁵Now I shall most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your souls, if even in abundantly loving you I should be less loved. ¹⁶But be it so. I did not burden you, but being crafty I took you by guile. ¹⁷Did I make gain of you by any of those whom I have sent to you? ¹⁸I begged Titus, and sent the brother with him: did Titus at all make gain of you? have we not walked in the same spirit? have we not in the same steps? ¹⁹Ye have long been supposing that we excuse ourselves to you: we speak before God in Christ; and all things, beloved, for your building up. ²⁰For I fear lest perhaps coming I find you not such as I wish, and that I be found by you such as ye do not wish: lest there might be strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, evil speakings, whisperings, puffings up, disturbances; ²¹lest my God should humble me as to you when I come again, and that I shall grieve over many of those who have sinned before, and have not repented as to the uncleanness and fornication and licentiousness which they have practised.