ABU(i)
1 TO boast is surely not expedient for me; for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ, above fourteen years ago (whether in the body I know not, or whether out of the body I know not, God knows) such a one caught up even to the third heaven.
3 And I know such a man (whether in the body or without the body I know not, God knows),
4 that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such a one I will boast; but of myself I will not boast, save in my infirmities.
6 For if I should desire to boast, I shall not be foolish, for I shall speak truth; but I forbear, lest any one should reckon of me above what he sees me to be, or hears from me.
7 And that I might not be exalted overmuch through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch.
8 Concerning this I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may abide upon me.
10 Wherefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am powerful.
11 I have become foolish; ye compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind these overmuch apostles, though I am nothing.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs, and wonders, and miracles.
13 For what is there, wherein ye were inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself was not a charge to you? Forgive me this wrong.
14 Behold, I am ready to come to you the third time; and I will not be a charge 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.
15 And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.
16 But be it so, I was not myself a charge to you; but yet, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
17 Did I make gain of you, by any of those whom I have sent to you?
18 I exhorted Titus [to go], and sent with him the brother. Did Titus make gain of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit; did we not in the same steps?
19 Do ye again suppose that we are excusing ourselves to you? Before God in Christ we speak; and all, beloved, for your edification.
20 For I fear, lest haply, when I come, I shall find you not such as I would, and I too shall be found by you such as ye would not; lest there be wranglings, envyings, wraths, rivalries, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;
21 lest, when I come again, my God shall humble me among you, and I shall bewail many of those who have sinned before, and repented not of the uncleanness, and fornication, and wantonness, which they committed.