Noyes - II Corinthians - 12

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

12:2  I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago,—whether in the body, I know not, or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth,—such a one caught up even to the third heaven.

12:3  And I know such a man, whether in the body, or without the body, I know not; God knoweth,—

12:4  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 a one I will boast; but of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.

12:6  For if I should desire to boast, I should not be a fool; for I should say the truth; but I forbear, lest any one should think of me above what he seeth me to be, or what he heareth from me.

12:7  And that I might not be too much lifted up by the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet me, that I might not be too much lifted up.

12:8  In respect to this I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me;

12:9  and he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may abide upon me.

12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then am I strong.

12:11  I have become a fool; it is ye that compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the very foremost apostles, though I am nothing.

12:12  Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you with all endurance, by signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

12:13  For what is there in which ye were at disadvantage when compared with other churches, except that I myself was not a charge to you? Forgive me this wrong.

12:14  Behold, I am ready to come to you this third time, and I will not be a charge 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 your souls; though the more I love you, the less I am loved.

12:16  But be it so; I at least was not a charge to you; but yet, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

12:17  Did I make gain of you by any of those whom I have sent to you?

12:18  I urged Titus to go to you, and with him I sent the brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

12:19  Have ye been thinking this long time that we are defending ourselves to you? It is before God in Christ that we are speaking; but all things, beloved, for your edification.

12:20  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and lest I too shall be found by you such as ye would not; lest there be wranglings, envying, wraths, rivalries, 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 of those who have sinned already, and did not repent of the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, which they committed.