1 Boasting is indeed not profitable for me. But I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

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

2 I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know; God knows—was caught up to the third heaven.

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 know such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know; God knows—

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4 was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which are not lawful for a man to utter.

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but concerning myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

6 For if I desire to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone think more of me than what they see in me or hear from me.

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 because of the extraordinary revelations, so that I might not become conceited, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me, so that I would not become conceited.

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 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

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 weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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 have become foolish in boasting; you compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you, because I am in no way inferior to the 'super-apostles,' even though I am nothing.

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 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs, wonders, and miracles.

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

13 For in what way were you less favored than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

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 Look, I am ready to come to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. For I do not seek what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

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 most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I to be loved less?

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 that as it may, I did not burden you. Rather, being crafty, I caught you with deceit.

But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those I sent to you?

Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow the same steps?

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, do you think that we are defending ourselves to you? We are speaking before God in Christ, and all these things, beloved, are for your edification.

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 that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be strife, jealousy, anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

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 I fear that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will grieve over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they have practiced.

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.