1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and ^xrevelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man ^yin Christ who fourteen years ago was ^zcaught up to ^athe third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, ^bGod knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into ^cparadise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, ^bGod knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, ^dexcept of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, ^eI would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So ^fto keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,^{1 g}a thorn was given me in the flesh, ^ha messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 ⁱThree times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, ^j“My grace is sufficient for you, for ^kmy power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that ^lthe power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 ^mFor the sake of Christ, then, ⁿI am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For ^owhen I am weak, then I am strong.

11 ^pI have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was ^qnot at all inferior to these super-apostles, ^reven though I am nothing. 12 ^sThe signs of a true apostle were performed among you ^twith utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that ^uI myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!