^12:1 To boast is not advantageous for me! For^* I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. ^12:2 I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years before (whether in the body, I do not know or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows), such a one was seized up to the third heaven. ^12:3 And I know such a man (whether in the body or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows), ^12:4 that he was seized up into the Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which things are not being legal for man to speak. ^12:5 I will be boasting on behalf of such a one, but I will not be boasting on behalf of myself, except in my weaknesses. ^12:6 For^* if I should wish to boast, I will not be foolish; for^* I will be speaking truth, but I am refraining, lest anyone should reason in me beyond what he sees from me or hears something out-of me. ^12:7 And, in-order-that I should not promote myself by the excellence of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of the Adversary, in-order-that it might batter me, in-order-that I should not promote myself. ^12:8 I pleaded with the Lord three-times in regard to this thing in-order-that it might withdraw from me. ^12:9 And he has said to me, My grace is enough for you; for^* my power is completed in weakness. Therefore, I will rather gladly be boasting in my weaknesses in-order-that the power of the Christ might reside upon me. ^12:10 Hence I am delighted in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions, in distresses, on behalf of Christ; for^* whenever I may be weak, then I am mighty.

      ^12:11 I have become a boasting fool. You^° urged me to it. For^* I was obligating to be commended by you^°; for^* I lacked in nothing over those preeminent apostles, even if I am nothing. ^12:12 Indeed the signs of the apostle were worked among you^° in all endurance, in signs and wonders and miracles. ^12:13 For^* what is it in which you^° were lesser, beyond the rest of the congregations^*, except in that I myself did not encumber you^°? Forgive^*° me this unrighteousness!

      ^12:14 Behold, I hold ready to come to you^° the third-time, and I will not be encumbering you^°; for^* I am not seeking the things of you^°, but you^°; for^* the children ought not to store up for the parents, but the parents for the children. ^12:15 Now I will gladly spend and be utterly spent on behalf of your^° souls; even if, when loving^* you^° even-more, means I am loved^* even-less. ^12:16 But let it be so, nevertheless, I did not burden you^°. But, being^* a crafty person, I took you^° with treachery. ^12:17 Anyone of whom I have sent to you^°, I did not take-advantage of you^° through him, did I? ^12:18 I encouraged Titus and I sent the brother together-with him. Titus did not take-advantage of you^°, did he? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same footprints?

      ^12:19 Again, do you^° think that we are defending ourselves to you^°? We speak in Christ in God’s sight. But beloved, all things are on behalf of your^° building up. ^12:20 For^* I am fearing, lest, if I came, I should find you^° such-as I do not will and I might be found by you^° such-as you^° do not will; lest there should be strifes, jealousies, furies, selfish-ambitions, slanders, malicious whisperers, arrogant-people, unrests; ^12:21 lest when I come again, my God will humble me before you^° and I will be mourning for many of the ones who have sinned before and did not repent upon the uncleanness and fornication and unbridled-lust in which they practiced.