2 Corinthians
12:1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions
and revelations of the Lord.
12:2 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.
12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I
cannot tell: God knoweth;)
12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words,
which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
12:5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine
infirmities.
12:6 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.
12:7 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.
12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
12:9 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.
12:10 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.
12:11 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.
12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in
signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
12:13 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.
12:14 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.
12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more
abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
12:16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught
you with guile.
12:17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
12:18 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?
12:19 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.
12:20 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:
12:21 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.
