2 Corinthians 12:1–10

¹To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. ²I have known a man in Christ, fourteen years ago—whether in the body I have not known, whether out of the body I have not known, God hath known—such an one being caught away unto the third heaven; ³and I have known such a man—whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God hath known,— ⁴that he was caught away to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for man to speak. ⁵Of such an one I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities, ⁶for if I may wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for truth I will say; but I forebear, lest any one in regard to me may think anything above what he doth see me, or doth hear anything of me; ⁷and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch. ⁸Concerning this thing thrice the Lord did I call upon, that it might depart from me, ⁹and He said to me, ‘Sufficient for thee is My grace, for My power in infirmity is perfected;’ most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may rest on me: ¹⁰wherefore I am well pleased in infirmities, in damages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses—for Christ; for whenever I am infirm, then I am powerful;