2 Corinthians 11:24-12:10

New King James Version

²⁴ From the Jews five times I received ^(A)forty ^(B)stripes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was ^(C)beaten with rods; ^(D)once I was stoned; three times I ^(E)was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, ^(F)in perils of my own countrymen, ^(G)in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ in weariness and toil, ^(H)in sleeplessness often, ^(I)in hunger and thirst, in ^(J)fastings often, in cold and nakedness— ²⁸ besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: ^(K)my deep concern for all the churches. ^29 (L)Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

³⁰ If I must boast, ^(M)I will boast in the things which concern my ^[a]infirmity. ^31 (N)The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(O)who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. ^32 (P)In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; ³³ but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

The Vision of Paradise

12 It is ^[b]doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to ^(Q)visions and ^(R)revelations of the Lord: ² I know a man ^(S)in Christ who 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 ^(T)was caught up to the third heaven. ³ And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— ⁴ how he was caught up into ^(U)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. ⁵ Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not ^(V)boast, except in my infirmities. ⁶ For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

The Thorn in the Flesh

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a ^(W)thorn in the flesh was given to me, ^(X)a messenger of Satan to ^[c]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ^8 (Y)Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly ^(Z)I will rather boast in my infirmities, ^(AA)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(AB)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. ^(AC)For when I am weak, then I am strong.