2 Corinthians 12:1–10

Paul’s Vision

^1aBoasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and ^brevelations ¹of the Lord.

²I know a man ^ain Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, ^bGod knows—such a man was ^ccaught up to the ^dthird heaven.

³And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ^aGod knows—

⁴was ^acaught up into ^bParadise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

^5aOn behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my ^bweaknesses.

⁶For if I do wish to boast I will not be ^afoolish, ^bfor I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

A Thorn in the Flesh

⁷Because of the surpassing greatness of the ^arevelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a ^bthorn in the flesh, a ^cmessenger of Satan to ¹torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!

⁸Concerning this I implored the Lord ^athree times that it might leave me.

⁹And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for ^apower is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ^bboast ¹about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

¹⁰Therefore ^aI am well content with weaknesses, with ¹insults, with ^bdistresses, with ^cpersecutions, with difficulties, ^dfor Christ’s sake; for ^ewhen I am weak, then I am strong.