2 Corinthians 12
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 yours, 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.