1 It is{G4851} not{G3756} expedient{G4851}{(G5719)} for me{G3427} doubtless{G1211} to glory{G2744}{(G5738)}.{G1063} I will come{G2064}{(G5695)} to{G1519} visions{G3701} and{G2532} revelations{G602} of the Lord{G2962}.

2 I knew{G1492}{(G5758)} a man{G444} in{G1722} Christ{G5547} above{G4253} fourteen{G1180} years{G2094} ago{G4253},(whether{G1535} in{G1722} the body{G4983}, I cannot{G3756} tell{G1492}{(G5758)}; or whether{G1535} out{G1622} of the body{G4983}, I cannot{G3756} tell{G1492}{(G5758)}: God{G2316} knoweth{G1492}{(G5758)};) such an one{G5108} caught up{G726}{(G5651)} to{G2193} the third{G5154} heaven{G3772}.

3 And{G2532} I knew{G1492}{(G5758)} such{G5108} a man{G444},(whether{G1535} in{G1722} the body{G4983}, or{G1535} out{G1622} of the body{G4983}, I cannot{G3756} tell{G1492}{(G5758)}: God{G2316} knoweth{G1492}{(G5758)};)

4 How that{G3754} he was caught up{G726}{(G5648)} into{G1519} paradise{G3857}, and{G2532} heard{G191}{(G5656)} unspeakable{G731} words{G4487}, which{G3739} it is{G1832} not{G3756} lawful{G1832}{(G5752)} for a man{G444} to utter{G2980}{(G5658)}.

5 Of{G5228} such an one{G5108} will I glory{G2744}{(G5695)}: yet{G1161} of{G5228} myself{G1683} I will{G2744} not{G3756} glory{G2744}{(G5695)}, but{G1508} in{G1722} mine{G3450} infirmities{G769}.

6 For{G1063} though{G1437} I would desire{G2309}{(G5661)} to glory{G2744}{(G5664)}, I shall{G2071} not{G3756} be{G2071}{(G5704)} a fool{G878}; for{G1063} I will say{G2046}{(G5692)} the truth{G225}: but{G1161} now I forbear{G5339}{(G5736)}, lest{G3361} any man{G5100} should think{G3049}{(G5667)} of{G1519} me{G1691} above{G5228} that which{G3739} he seeth{G991}{(G5719)} me{G3165} to be, or{G2228} that he heareth{G191}{(G5719)} of{G5100}{G1537} me{G1700}.

7 And{G2532} lest{G3363} I should be exalted above measure{G5229}{(G5747)} through the abundance{G5236} of the revelations{G602}, there was given{G1325}{(G5681)} to me{G3427} a thorn{G4647} in the flesh{G4561}, the messenger{G32} of Satan{G4566} to{G2443} buffet{G2852}{(G5725)} me{G3165}, lest{G3363} I should be exalted above measure{G5229}{(G5747)}.

8 For{G5228} this thing{G5127} I besought{G3870}{(G5656)} the Lord{G2962} thrice{G5151}, that{G2443} it might depart{G868}{(G5632)} from{G575} me{G1700}.

9 And{G2532} he said{G2046}{(G5758)} unto me{G3427}, My{G3450} grace{G5485} is sufficient{G714}{(G5719)} for thee{G4671}: for{G1063} my{G3450} strength{G1411} is made perfect{G5048}{(G5743)} in{G1722} weakness{G769}. Most gladly{G2236} therefore{G3767} will I{G2744} rather{G3123} glory{G2744}{(G5695)} in{G1722} my{G3450} infirmities{G769}, that{G2443} the power{G1411} of Christ{G5547} may rest{G1981}{(G5661)} upon{G1909} me{G1691}.

10 Therefore{G1352} I take pleasure{G2106}{(G5719)} in{G1722} infirmities{G769}, in{G1722} reproaches{G5196}, in{G1722} necessities{G318}, in{G1722} persecutions{G1375}, in{G1722} distresses{G4730} for{G5228} Christ's{G5547} sake{G5228}: for{G1063} when{G3752} I am weak{G770}{(G5725)}, then{G5119} am{G1510}{(G5748)} I strong{G1415}.

11 I am become{G1096}{(G5754)} a fool{G878} in glorying{G2744}{(G5740)}; ye{G5210} have compelled{G315}{(G5656)} me{G3165}: for{G1063} I{G1473} ought{G3784}{(G5707)} to have been commended{G4921}{(G5745)} of{G5259} you{G5216}: for{G1063} in nothing{G3762} am I behind{G5302}{(G5656)} the very chiefest{G3029} apostles{G652}{G5228}, though{G1499} I be{G1510}{(G5748)} nothing{G3762}.

12 Truly{G3303} the signs{G4592} of an apostle{G652} were wrought{G2716}{(G5681)} among{G1722} you{G5213} in{G1722} all{G3956} patience{G5281}, in{G1722} signs{G4592}, and{G2532} wonders{G5059}, and{G2532} mighty deeds{G1411}.

13 For{G1063} what{G5101} is it{G2076}{(G5748)} wherein{G3739} ye were inferior{G2274}{(G5681)} to{G5228} other{G3062} churches{G1577}, except{G1508} it be that{G3754} I{G1473} myself{G846} was{G2655} not{G3756} burdensome{G2655}{(G5656)} to you{G5216}? forgive{G5483}{(G5663)} me{G3427} this{G5026} wrong{G93}.

14 Behold{G2400}{(G5628)}, the third time{G5154} I am{G2192}{(G5719)} ready{G2093} to come{G2064}{(G5629)} to{G4314} you{G5209}; and{G2532} I will{G2655} not{G3756} be burdensome{G2655}{(G5692)} to you{G5216}: for{G1063} I seek{G2212}{(G5719)} not{G3756} yours{G5216}, but{G235} you{G5209}: for{G1063} the children{G5043} ought{G3784}{(G5719)} not{G3756} to lay up{G2343}{(G5721)} for the parents{G1118}, but{G235} the parents{G1118} for the children{G5043}.

15 And{G1161} I{G1473} will very gladly{G2236} spend{G1159}{(G5692)} and{G2532} be spent{G1550}{(G5701)} for{G5228} you{G5590}{G5216}; though{G1499} the more abundantly{G4056} I love{G25}{(G5723)} you{G5209}, the less{G2276} I be loved{G25}{(G5743)}.

16 But{G1161} be it so{G2077}{(G5749)}, I{G1473} did{G2599} not{G3756} burden{G2599}{(G5656)} you{G5209}: nevertheless{G235}, being{G5225}{(G5723)} crafty{G3835}, I caught{G2983}{(G5627)} you{G5209} with guile{G1388}.

17 Did I make a gain{G4122}{(G5656)}{G3361} of you{G5209} by{G1223} any{G5100} of them{G846} whom{G3739} I sent{G649}{(G5758)} unto{G4314} you{G5209}?

18 I desired{G3870}{(G5656)} Titus{G5103}, and{G2532} with him I sent{G4882}{(G5656)} a brother{G80}. Did{G4122}{G3387} Titus{G5103} make a gain{G4122}{(G5656)} of you{G5209}? walked we{G4043}{(G5656)} not{G3756} in the same{G846} spirit{G4151}? walked we not{G3756} in the same{G846} steps{G2487}?

19 Again{G3825}, think ye{G1380}{(G5719)} that{G3754} we excuse ourselves{G626}{(G5736)} unto you{G5213}? we speak{G2980}{(G5719)} before{G2714} God{G2316} in{G1722} Christ{G5547}: but{G1161} we do all things{G3956}, dearly beloved{G27}, for{G5228} your{G5216} edifying{G3619}.

20 For{G1063} I fear{G5399}{(G5736)}, lest{G3381}{G4458}, when I come{G2064}{(G5631)}, I shall{G2147} not{G3756} find{G2147}{(G5632)} you{G5209} such as{G3634} I would{G2309}{(G5719)}, and that I{G2504} shall be found{G2147}{(G5686)} unto you{G5213} such as{G3634} ye would{G2309}{(G5719)} not{G3756}: lest{G3381}{G4458} there be debates{G2054}, envyings{G2205}, wraths{G2372}, strifes{G2052}, backbitings{G2636}, whisperings{G5587}, swellings{G5450}, tumults{G181}:

21 And lest{G3361}, when I come{G2064}{(G5631)} again{G3825}, my{G3450} God{G2316} will humble{G5013}{(G5661)} me{G3165} among{G4314} you{G5209}, and{G2532} that I shall bewail{G3996}{(G5692)} many{G4183} which{G3588} have sinned already{G4258}{(G5761)}, and{G2532} have{G3340} not{G3361} repented{G3340}{(G5660)} of{G1909} the uncleanness{G167} and{G2532} fornication{G4202} and{G2532} lasciviousness{G766} which{G3739} they have committed{G4238}{(G5656)}.