2 Corinthians 11:23-12:10

New International Version

²³ Are they servants of Christ?^(A) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,^(B) been in prison more frequently,^(C) been flogged more severely,^(D) and been exposed to death again and again.^{(E) 24} Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes^(F) minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods,^(G) once I was pelted with stones,^(H) three times I was shipwrecked,^(I) I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews,^(J) in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,^(K) in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.^{(L) 27} I have labored and toiled^(M) and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;^(N) I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.^{(O) 29} Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?^(P) Who is led into sin,^(Q) and I do not inwardly burn?

³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast^(R) of the things that show my weakness.^{(S) 31} The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever,^(T) knows^(U) that I am not lying. ³² In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.^{(V) 33} But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.^(W)

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting.^(X) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations^(Y) from the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ^(Z) who fourteen years ago was caught up^(AA) to the third heaven.^(AB) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.^{(AC) 3} And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— ⁴ was caught up^(AD) to paradise^(AE) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. ⁵ I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.^{(AF) 6} Even if I should choose to boast,^(AG) I would not be a fool,^(AH) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, ⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations.^(AI) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,^(AJ) a messenger of Satan,^(AK) to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.^{(AL) 9} But he said to me, “My grace^(AM) is sufficient for you, for my power^(AN) is made perfect in weakness.^(AO)”^(AP) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight^(AQ) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,^(AR) in persecutions,^(AS) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(AT)