12:1  It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will
come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
 12:2  I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago,
(whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the
body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the
third heaven.
 12:3  And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of
the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
 12:4  How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard
unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
 12:5  Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not
glory, but in mine infirmities.
 12:6  For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a
fool; for I will say the truth: but [now] I forbear, lest any
man should think of me above that which he seeth me [to be], or
[that] he heareth of me.
 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the
abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in
the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should
be exalted above measure.
 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might
depart from me.
 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power
of Christ may rest upon me.
 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in
reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
 12:11  I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me:
for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I
behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
 12:12  Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in
all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
 12:13  For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other
churches, except [it be] that I myself was not burdensome to
you? forgive me this wrong.
 12:14  Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I
will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you:
for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the
parents for the children.
 12:15  And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you;
though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
 12:16  But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being
crafty, I caught you with guile.
 12:17  Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent
unto you?
 12:18  I desired Titus, and with [him] I sent a brother. Did
Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit?
[walked we] not in the same steps?
 12:19  Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we
speak before God in Christ: but [we do] all things, dearly
beloved, for your edifying.
 12:20  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you
such as I would, and [that] I shall be found unto you such as
ye would not: lest [there be] debates, envyings, wraths,
strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
 12:21  [And] lest, when I come again, my God will humble me
among you, and [that] I shall bewail many which have sinned
already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and
fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.