EMTV - II Corinthians - 12

12:1  It is indeed not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:

12:2  I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows), such a one was caught up to the third heaven.

12:3  And I know such a man(whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows),

12:4  that he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not permitted for a man to utter.

12:5  Concerning such a one I will boast, but concerning myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

12:6  For if I should desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I spare you, lest anyone consider me to be beyond what he sees me to be or hears something from me.

12:7  And lest I exalt myself above measure by the excellence of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, that it might beat me, lest I exalt myself above measure.

12:8  Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

12:9  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

12:10  Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

12:11  I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me! For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing have I been inferior to the super apostles, though I am nothing.

12:12  Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and miracles.

12:13  For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

12:14  Now for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not burden you. For I do not seek what is yours, but you. For the children ought not to store up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

12:15  And I gladly will spend and be expended for your souls; although the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

12:16  But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I took you with guile!

12:17  Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you?

12:18  I urged Titus, and I sent with him the brother. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same Spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

12:19  Again, do you think that we are defending ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.

12:20  For I am afraid, lest perhaps when I come, I will not find you as I desire, and that I will be found by you as you do not desire; lest perhaps there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, disputes, slanders, gossipings, pride, disorders;

12:21  lest, when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will mourn for many who have previously sinned and have not repented for the impurity and sexual immorality and lewdness which they have practiced.