⁵ On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, ^(A)except of my weaknesses— ⁶ though if I should wish to boast, ^(B)I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. ⁷ So ^(C)to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,^{[a] (D)}a thorn was given me in the flesh, ^(E)a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.