2 Corinthians 12:1-10

A Vision of Paradise

^aIt is necessary to boast, though it is not profitable, but I will go on to visions and ^brevelations ¹of the Lord. 2 I know a man ^ain Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, ^bGod knows—such a man was ^ccaught up to the ^dthird heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ^aGod knows— 4 was ^acaught up into ^bParadise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 ^aOn behalf of such a man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in ^bweaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be ^afoolish, ^bfor I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will consider me beyond what he sees in me or hears from me.

A Thorn in the Flesh

7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the ^arevelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a ^bthorn in the flesh, a ^cmessenger of Satan to ¹torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord ^athree times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for ^apower is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ^bboast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore ^aI am well content with weaknesses, with ¹insults, with ^bdistresses, with ^cpersecutions and ^bhardships, ^dfor the sake of Christ, for ^ewhen I am weak, then I am strong.

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