2 Corinthians 12:1–10

Sufficient Grace

12Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions ^hand revelations ⁱof the Lord. ²I know a man in Christ who was caught up ^jinto the third heaven 14 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. ^kHe heard inexpressible words, which a man 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 will not be a fool, because I will be telling the truth. ^lBut 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 ^mwas given to me, a messenger ⁿof Satan ^oto torment me so I would not exalt myself. ⁸Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. ⁹But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power ^pqis perfected in weakness.” ^rTherefore, 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, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. ^sFor when I am weak, then I am strong. ^t