12:1  Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

12:2  I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a man was caught up to the third heaven.

12:3  And I know how such a man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows--

12:4  was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

12:5  On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to {my} weaknesses.

12:6  For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for 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.

12:7  Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself!

12:8  Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.

12:9  And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

12:10  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

12:11  I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.

12:12  The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.

12:13  For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

12:14  Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for {their} parents, but parents for {their} children.

12:15  I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

12:16  But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit.

12:17  {Certainly} I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?

12:18  I urged Titus {to go,} and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit {and walk} in the same steps?

12:19  All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. {Actually,} it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.

12:20  For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps {there will be} strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;

12:21  I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.