24 From the Jews five times I received gforty hstripes minus one. 25 Three times I was ibeaten with rods; jonce I was stoned; three times I kwas shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, lin perils of my own countrymen, min perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, nin sleeplessness often, oin hunger and thirst, in pfastings often, in cold and nakedness—28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: qmy deep concern for all the churches. 29 rWho is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

30 If I must boast, sI will boast in the things which concern my 4infirmity. 31 tThe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, uwho is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 vIn Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

The Vision of Paradise

12 It is 1doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to avisions and brevelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man cin Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one dwas caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—4 how he was caught up into eParadise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not fboast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

The Thorn in the Flesh

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a gthorn in the flesh was given to me, ha messenger of Satan to 2buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.