1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 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 am I strong.

11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. 14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome 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. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? 18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? 19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. 20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

1 夸口固然无益， 却也是必要的。现在我要说说主的异象和启示。

2 我认识一个在基督里的人， 他十四年前被提到第三层天上去。（是带着身体被提的呢？我不知道， 是离开了身体呢？我也不知道， 只有 神知道。）

3 我认识这个人， （是带着身体被提， 还是在身体以外被提， 我都不知道， 只有 神知道。）

4 他被提到乐园里去， 听见了难以言喻的话， 那是人不可以说的。

5 为了这个人， 我要夸口， 但为了我自己， 除了我的软弱以外， 我没有可夸的。

6 即使我想夸口， 也不算愚妄， 因为我要说的是真话。但我闭口不提， 免得有人把我看得太高， 过于他在我身上所见所闻的。

7 又因为我所得的启示太大， 恐怕会高抬自己， 所以就有一根刺加在我的身上， 就是撒但的差役来攻击我， 免得我高抬自己。

8 为了这事， 我曾经三次求主， 使这根刺离开我。

9 他却对我说： "我的恩典是够你用的， 因为我的能力在人的软弱上显得完全。"所以， 我更喜欢夸自己的软弱， 好让基督的能力临到我的身上。

10 因此， 我为基督的缘故， 就以软弱、凌辱、艰难、迫害、困苦为喜乐， 因为我什么时候软弱， 什么时候就刚强了。

11 我成了愚妄的人， 是你们逼成的。其实你们应该称赞我， 因为我虽然算不得什么， 却没有一点比不上那些"超等使徒"。

12 我在你们中间， 以各种忍耐， 用神迹、奇事和大能， 作为使徒的凭据。

13 除了我自己没有成为你们的重担以外， 你们还有什么比不上别的教会呢？这一点委屈， 请原谅我吧！

14 好了， 我打算第三次到你们那里去， 这一次也不会成为你们的重担， 因为我所要的不是你们的东西， 而是你们自己。儿女不需要为父母积财， 父母却应该为儿女积财。

15 至于我， 我甘心乐意为你们的灵魂付上一切， 鞠躬尽瘁。难道我越爱你们， 就越得不到你们的爱吗？

16 算了！ 我没有成为你们的重担， 却是个狡猾的人， 用诡计牢笼你们。

17 我派到你们那里去的人， 我借着谁占过你们的便宜？

18 我劝提多到你们那里去， 又派了那位弟兄一同去。提多占过你们的便宜吗？我们行事， 不是同一个心灵吗？不是同样的步伐吗？

19 你们一直以为我们是在向你们申辩吗？我们是在基督里， 当着 神面前说话的。亲爱的， 一切事都是为了建立你们。

20 我怕我来的时候， 见你们不如我所想的， 你们见我也不如你们所想的。又怕有纷争、嫉妒、恼怒、自私、毁谤、谗言、狂傲、混乱的事。

21 又怕我再来的时候， 我的 神使我在你们面前羞愧； 并且我要为许多从前犯罪的人哀痛， 因为他们行了污秽、奸淫、邪荡的事， 却不肯悔改。