II Corinthians 12

¹If it is necessary (though certainly not expedient) to glory, then I will next tell of visions and revelations from the Lord.

²I know a man in Christ, who, more than fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows), was enraptured to the third heaven.

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

⁴who was enraptured into Paradise. And he heard words of mystery, which it is not permitted for man to speak.

⁵On behalf of someone like this, I will glory. But on behalf of myself, I will not glory about anything, except my infirmities.

⁶For even though I am willing to glory, I will not be foolish. But I will speak the truth. Yet I will do so sparingly, lest anyone may consider me to be anything more than what he sees in me, or anything more than what he hears from me.

⁷And lest the greatness of the revelations should extol me, there was given to me a prodding in my flesh: an angel of Satan, who struck me repeatedly.

⁸Because of this, three times I petitioned the Lord that it might be taken away from me.

⁹And he said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness.” And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me.

¹⁰Because of this, I am pleased in my infirmity: in reproaches, in difficulties, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful.

¹¹I have become foolish; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you. For I have been nothing less than those who claim to be above the measure of Apostles, even though I am nothing.

¹²And the seal of my Apostleship has been set over you, with all patience, with signs and wonders and miracles.

¹³For what is there that you have had which is less than the other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this injury.

¹⁴Behold, this is the third time I have prepared to come to you, and yet I will not be a burden to you. For I am seeking not the things that are yours, but you yourselves. And neither should the children store up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

¹⁵And so, very willingly, I will spend and exhaust myself for the sake of your souls, loving you more, while being loved less.

¹⁶And so be it. I have not burdened you, but instead, being astute, I obtained you by guile.

¹⁷And yet, did I defraud you by means of any of those whom I sent to you?

¹⁸I asked for Titus, and I sent a brother with him. Did Titus defraud you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

¹⁹Have you ever thought that we should explain ourselves to you? We speak in the sight of God, in Christ. But all things, most beloved, are for your edification.

²⁰Yet I fear, lest perhaps, when I have arrived, I might not find you such as I would want, and I might be found by you, such as you would not want. For perhaps there may be among you: contention, envy, animosity, dissension, detraction, whispering, self-exaltation, and rebellion.

²¹If so, then, when I have arrived, God may again humble me among you. And so, I mourn for the many who sinned beforehand, and did not repent, over the lust and fornication and homosexuality, which they have committed.

II Corinthians 12

¹If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed) but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

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

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

⁴That he was caught up into paradise and heard secret words which it is not granted to man to utter.

⁵For such an one I will glory: but for myself I will glory nothing but in my infirmities.

⁶For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish: for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me.

⁷And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.

⁸For which thing, thrice I besought the Lord that it might depart from me.

⁹And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

¹⁰For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful.

¹¹I am become foolish. You have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you. For I have no way come short of them that are above measure apostles, although I be nothing.

¹²Yet the signs of my apostleship have been wrought on you, in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

¹³For what is there that you have had less than the other churches but that I myself was not burthensome to you? Pardon me this injury.

¹⁴Behold now the third time I am ready to come to you and I will not be burthensome unto you. For I seek not the things that are yours, but you. For neither ought the children to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

¹⁵But I most gladly will spend and be spent myself for your souls: although loving you more, I be loved less.

¹⁶But be it so: I did not burthen you: but being crafty, I caught you by guile.

¹⁷Did I overreach you by any of them whom I sent to you?

¹⁸I desired Titus: and I sent with him a brother. Did Titus overreach you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? Did we not in the same steps?

¹⁹Of old, think you that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ: but all things, my dearly beloved, for your edification.

²⁰For I fear lest perhaps, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you such as you would not. Lest perhaps contentions, envyings, animosities, dissensions, detractions, whisperings, swellings, seditions, be among you.

²¹Lest again, when I come, God humble me among you: and I mourn many of them that sinned before and have not done penance for the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness that they have committed.