1 To boast indeed not is profitable for me; I will come for to visions and revelations of Lord.
2 I know a man in Anointed, above years fourteen, (whether with a body, not I know; or without the body, not I know; the God knows;) having been snatched away the such a one to third heaven.
3 And I know the such a man, (whether in a body, or without the body not I know; the God knows;)
4 that he was snatched away into the paradise, and heard indescribable things spoken, which not being possible for a man to speak.
5 Concerning the such a one I will boast; on behalf but of myself not I will boast; if not in the weaknesses of me.
6 If for I should desire to boast, not I shall be unwise; truth for I will say: I forbear but, lest any one to me should impute beyond what he sees me, or hears anything from of me.
7 And by the transcendency of the revelations that I not I should overelated, was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger adversary, that me it might buffet, that not I might be overelated.
8 Concerning this thrice the Lord I entreated, that it might be removed from me;
9 and he said to me: Is enough for thee the favor of me; the for power of me in weakness is perfected. Most gladly therefore rather I will boast in the weaknesses of me, so that may dwell upon me the power of the Anointed.
10 Wherefore I am wellpleased with weaknesses, with insults, with necessities, with persecutions, with distresses on behalf of Anointed; when for I may be weak, then strong I am.
11 I have become unwise; you me have constrained. I for ought by you to be commended; nothing for I was behind those in highest degree apostles, if even nothing I am.
12 The indeed signs of the apostle were worked out among you in all patience, in signs and prodigies and powers.
13 What for it is which you were inferior beyond the other congregations, if not that myself I not was burdensome to you? Forgive to me the injustice this.
14 Lo, a third time this in readiness I am to come to you, and not I will burden you; not for I seek the things of you, but you. Not for it is fitting the children for the parents to treasure up, but the parents for the children.
15 I but most gladly will spend and will be utterly spent on behalf of the souls of you; if even more abundantly you loving, less I am loved.
16 Let it be so but; I not did burden you; but being crafty, with guile you I took.
17 Not any one of whom I have sent to you, through him I overreached you?
18 I exhorted Titus, and I sent with the brother, not overreached you Titus? not in the same spirit we walked? not in the same steps?
19 Again do you think, that to you we apologize? In presence of the God, in Anointed, we speak. But all things, beloved ones, on behalf of the you build up.
20 I am afraid for, lest perhaps having come not such ones I wish I should find you, and I should found by you such a one not you wish, lest perhaps strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, evilspeakings whisperings, puffings up, disturbances;
21 lest again having come me should humble the God of me before you, and I should lament over many of those having previously sinned, and not having reformed in respect to the impurity and fornication and lewdness, which they practiced.
1 I must brag, although it does not do any good. I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago whether in the body, I do not know; or whether out of the body, I do not know; God knows, such a one caught up even to the third heaven.
3 And I know such a man whether in the body, or apart from the body, I do not know; God knows,
4 how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to speak.
5 I will brag about this person, but I will not brag about myself unless it is about my weaknesses.
6 If I ever wanted to brag, I would not be a fool. Instead, I would be telling the truth. But I am going to spare you so that no one may think more of me than what he sees or hears about me.
7 I was given a painful physical ailment that will keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw. It acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud.
8 Three times I prayed to God about this and asked him to take it away.
9 He told me: »My grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in weakness.« Most gladly therefore, I would rather glory in my infirmities frailities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me cover me like a tentdescend upon meabide with me. (Isaiah 40:29-31)
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I have become a fool in boasting. You have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended about you: for in nothing am I inferior to the most prominent apostles, though I am nothing.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13 What is it in which you were inferior to other congregations, except that I was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.
14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you. I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you. The children should not provide for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 I will gladly spend and be spent for you. When I love you more abundantly should I be loved less.
16 Just the same, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning.
17 Did I gain you by any of them whom I sent to you?
18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus gain you? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same mental disposition? Did we not walk in the same steps?
19 Do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for youre up building.
20 I am afraid that I may come and find you different from what I want you to be, and that you may find me different from what you want me to be. I fear that there may be rivalry, jealousy, hot tempers, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct.
21 I am afraid that the next time I come my God will humiliate me in your presence, and I shall weep over many who sinned in the past and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication and loose conduct that they have practiced.