12:1 It is necessary to go on boasting.¹ Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. 12:3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) 12:4 was caught up into paradise² and heard things too sacred to be put into words,³ things that a person⁴ is not permitted to speak. 12:5 On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. 12:6 For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling⁵ the truth; but I refrain from this so that no one may regard⁶ me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, 12:7 even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble⁷ me—so that I would not become arrogant.⁸ 12:8 I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. 12:9 But⁹ he said to me, “My grace is enough¹⁰ for you, for my power is made perfect¹¹ in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly¹² about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in¹³ me. 12:10 Therefore I am content with¹⁴ weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties¹⁵ for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

12:11 I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it; for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison¹⁶ to those ‘super-apostles,’ even though I am nothing. 12:12 Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance¹⁷ by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.¹⁸ 12:13 For how¹⁹ were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice! 12:14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not seek your possessions, but you. For children should not have²⁰ to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 12:15 Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives.²¹ If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 12:16 But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit! 12:17 I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I?²² 12:18 I urged Titus to visit you²³ and I sent our²⁴ brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he?²⁵ Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way?²⁶ 12:19 Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God; and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.²⁷ 12:20 For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me²⁸ not what you wish. I am afraid that²⁹ somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition,³⁰ slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. 12:21 I am afraid that³¹ when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for³² many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.