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¹ To be boasting, is needful, - it is not, indeed, profitable, yet will I come to visions and revelations of the Lord: - ² I know a man in Christ, who, fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not, God, knoweth, such a one as this, caught away, as far as the third heaven;³ And I know such a man as this, whether in the body or apart from the body, I know not, - God, knoweth,⁴ How that he was caught away into paradise, and heard unspeakable things, which it is not allowable for a man to utter:⁵ On behalf of such a one as this, will I boast, but, on behalf of myself, will I not boast, save in my weaknesses; - ⁶ Although in fact, if I should wish to boast, I shall not be foolish, for, the truth, would I speak; but I forbear, lest anyone, unto me, should reckon above what he beholdeth me to be , or heareth from me, - even by the exceeding greatness of the revelations.⁷ Wherefore, lest I should be unduly lifted up, there was given to me a thorn o in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, that he might buffet me, - lest I should be unduly lifted up.⁸ In this behalf, thrice, besought I, the Lord, that it might depart from me;⁹ And at once he said unto me - Sufficient for thee, is my favour, for, my power, in weakness, is made complete. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may spread a tent over me.¹⁰ Wherefore, I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, and straits, in behalf of Christ; for, as soon as I am weak, then, am powerful.

¹¹ I have become foolish, - ye, compelled me: - I, in fact, ought, by you, to have been commended; for, not a whit, have I come behind the exceeding overmuch apostles, - even if I am nothing:¹² The signs, indeed, of an apostle, were wrought out among you, in all endurance, - bothin signs, and wonders, and mighty works:¹³ For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, - save that, I myself, would not allow myself to be a burden unto you? Forgive me this wrong!¹⁴ Lo! this third time, I am holding myself, in readiness, to come unto you, and I will not allow myself to be a burden; for I seek not yours, but you; - for, the children, ought not to lay up, for the parents, but the parents for the children; - ¹⁵ And, I, most gladly, will spend, and be fully spent, for your souls: - If I, exceedingly, love you, am I, the less, loved?¹⁶ But let it be! - I, myself, did not burden you, - Notwithstanding, being crafty, with guile, I caught you?¹⁷ Was there, anyone of those whom I have sent unto you, through whom I have overreached you?¹⁸ I exhorted Titus, and sent with him the brother, - Did, Titus, overreach you? Was it not, in the same spirit, we walked? Was it not, in the same steps?¹⁹ All this time, think ye, that, unto you, we are making a defence? Before God in Christ, we speak; - but all these things, beloved, for your upbuilding.²⁰ For I fear - lest, by any means, when I come, not such as I wish, should I find you, and, I, should be found by you, such as ye do not wish; - lest, by any means, I should find strife, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, factions, railings, whisperings, puffed up pretensions, confusions; - ²¹ Lest, when I again come, my God should humble me in regard to you, - and I should grieve over many who had before sinned, and not repented of the impurity, and fornication, and wantonness which they had committed.