LO - II Corinthians - 12

12:1  To boast, indeed, is not profitable to me; yet I will proceed to visions and revelations of the Lord.

12:2  I knew a man in Christ fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I do not know; God knows:) such a one suddenly conveyed away to the third heaven.

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

12:4  that he was suddenly conveyed away into paradise, and heard unspeakable things, which are not lawful for man to utter.

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

12:6  Yet if I should incline to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any one should think concerning me, above what he sees me to be, or what he hears from me.

12:7  Indeed, that I might not be exalted above measure by the transcendency of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

12:8  Concerning this, I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

12:9  But he said to me, My favor is sufficient for you, besides, my power is perfected in weakness: most gladly, therefore, I will boast rather of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell upon me.

12:10  Wherefore, I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with necessities, with persecutions, with distresses, for Christ's sake; because when I am weak, then I am strong.

12:11  Have I become a fool--? You have constrained me to it; for I ought to have been commended by you, because I am in nothing behind the very greatest Apostles, though I am nothing.

12:12  Truly the signs of an Apostle were fully wrought among you with all patience, by signs and wonders, and powers.

12:13  For what is the thing in which you were inferior to other congregations, unless that I myself have not been burdensome to you? Forgive me this injury.

12:14  Behold, a third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be burdensome to you; because 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  Yes, I most gladly will spend and be spent for the sake of your souls; even though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

12:16  Be it so, then, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile!

12:17  With respect to any one of them I sent to you, did I by him make gain of you?

12:18  I besought Titus to go to you; and with him I sent a brother: did Titus make any gain 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 apologize to you? In the presence of God we speak in Christ, that all these things, beloved, are done for your edification.

12:20  Yet I am afraid, lest, perhaps, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish: and that I shall be found by you, such as you do not wish: --lest, perhaps, there be among you strifes, emulations, wraths, brawlings, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults.

12:21  And lest, when I come again, my God may humble me among you; and I shall bewail many, who have formerly sinned, and have not reformed from the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, which they have committed.