Paul Boasts About His Sufferings

¹⁶ I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool.^(A) But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. ¹⁷ In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would,^(B) but as a fool.^{(C) 18} Since many are boasting in the way the world does,^(D) I too will boast.^{(E) 19} You gladly put up with^(F) fools since you are so wise!^{(G) 20} In fact, you even put up with^(H) anyone who enslaves you^(I) or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. ²¹ To my shame I admit that we were too weak^(J) for that!

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.^{(K) 22} Are they Hebrews? So am I.^(L) Are they Israelites? So am I.^(M) Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.^{(N) 23} Are they servants of Christ?^(O) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,^(P) been in prison more frequently,^(Q) been flogged more severely,^(R) and been exposed to death again and again.^{(S) 24} Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes^(T) minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods,^(U) once I was pelted with stones,^(V) three times I was shipwrecked,^(W) 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,^(X) in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,^(Y) in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.^{(Z) 27} I have labored and toiled^(AA) and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;^(AB) I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.^{(AC) 29} Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?^(AD) Who is led into sin,^(AE) and I do not inwardly burn?

³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast^(AF) of the things that show my weakness.^{(AG) 31} The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever,^(AH) knows^(AI) 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.^{(AJ) 33} But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.^(AK)

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting.^(AL) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations^(AM) from the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ^(AN) who fourteen years ago was caught up^(AO) to the third heaven.^(AP) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.^{(AQ) 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^(AR) to paradise^(AS) 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.^{(AT) 6} Even if I should choose to boast,^(AU) I would not be a fool,^(AV) 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.^(AW) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,^(AX) a messenger of Satan,^(AY) to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.^{(AZ) 9} But he said to me, “My grace^(BA) is sufficient for you, for my power^(BB) is made perfect in weakness.^(BC)”^(BD) 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^(BE) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,^(BF) in persecutions,^(BG) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(BH)