Murdock(i)
1 Glorying must be, but it is not profitable: so I proceed to visions and revelations of our Lord.
2 I knew a man in the Messiah fourteen years ago, (but whether in a body, or whether out of a body, I know not; God knoweth :) who was caught up to the third region of heaven.
3 And I knew this same man; (but whether in a body, or out of a body, I know not; God knoweth;)
4 and he was caught up to Paradise, and heard ineffable words, which it is not permitted a man to utter.
5 Of him I will glory: but of myself I will not glory, except in my infirmities.
6 Yet if I were disposed to glory, I should not be without reason; for I declare the truth. But I refrain, lest any one should think of me, beyond what he seeth in me and heareth from me.
7 And, that I might not be uplifted by the excellency of the revelations, there was imparted to me a thorn in my flesh, the angel of Satan, to buffet me, that I might not be uplifted.
8 Respecting this, I thrice besought my Lord, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my power is perfected in weakness. Gladly, therefore, will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of the Messiah may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I have pleasure in infirmities, in reproach, in afflictions, in persecutions, in distresses, which are for the Messiah's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 Behold, I have become foolish in my glorying, for ye compelled me. For ye ought to bear witness for me; because I was inferior in nothing to those legates who most excel, although I was nothing.
12 I wrought among you the signs of the legates, with all patience; and in prodigies, and in wonders, and in mighty deeds.
13 For in what fell ye short of the other churches; except in this, that I was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this fault.
14 Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not burden you; for I seek not yours, but you: for children ought not to lay up treasures for the parents, but the parents for their children.
15 And cheerfully will I both pay my expenses, and also give myself for your souls; although the more I love you, the less ye love me.
16 But perhaps, though I was not burdensome to you, yet, like a cunning man, I filched from you by craftiness!
17 Was it by the hand of some other person whom I sent to you, that I pilfered from you?
18 I requested Titus, and with him I sent the brethren: did Titus pilfer any thing from you? Did we not walk in one spirit, and in the same steps?
19 Do ye again suppose, that we would apologize to you? Before God, in the Messiah we speak: and all these things, my beloved, are for the sake of your edification.
20 For I fear, lest I should come to you and not find you such as I would wish; and lest I also should be found by you, such as ye would not wish; lest there should be contention, and envying, and anger, and obstinacy, and slandering, and murmuring, and insolence, and commotion;
21 lest, when I come to you, my God should humble me; and I should mourn over many, who have sinned, and have not repented of the impurity, the whoredom, and the lasciviousness, which they have committed.