2 Corinthians 12 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

KJV⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 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. ³ And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) ⁴ How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. ⁵ Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 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. 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. ⁸ For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 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. 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. 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 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 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. ¹⁴ Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. ¹⁵ And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. ¹⁶ But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. ¹⁷ Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? 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? 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. 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: 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.

RKJNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Though it is not profitable for me to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. ² I knew a man in Christ who fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;) was caught up to the third heaven. ³ And I know that this man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;) ⁴ Was caught up into paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. ⁵ Of such a man I will boast: yet of myself I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. ⁶ If I should desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will speak the truth: but I refrain, lest any man should think of me beyond that which he sees in me, or hears from me. ⁷ And lest I should exalt myself beyond measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted beyond measure. ⁸ I begged the Lord thrice, that this might depart from me. ⁹ And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, most gladly will I boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore, for Christ's sake, I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in distresses: for when I am weak, then I am strong. ¹¹ I have made a fool of myself; you have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you: for in nothing am I behind these superlative apostles, though I am nothing. ¹² The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all patience, by signs, and wonders, and miracles. ¹³ For in what way were you less favoured than other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. ¹⁴ Behold, for the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I do not seek what is yours, but you: for the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children. ¹⁵ And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I to be loved the less? ¹⁶ But be that as it may, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. ¹⁷ Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? ¹⁸ I urged Titus to go, and with him I sent the brother. Did Titus take advantage of you? did we not act in the same spirit and walk in the same steps? ¹⁹ All this time have you been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your strengthening. ²⁰ For I fear that when I come, I shall not find you as I wish, and you shall not find me to be as you wish; lest perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, rivalries, slander, gossip, conceit, disorder: ²¹ And I fear that, when I come again, my God may humble me before you, and I shall mourn over many who have sinned and have not repented of the impurity and sexual sin and licentiousness which they have committed.