2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10

New American Standard Bible

^16 (A)Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. ¹⁷ What I am saying, I am not saying ^[a](B)as the Lord would, but as ^(C)in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. ¹⁸ Since ^(D)many boast ^(E)according to the flesh, I will boast also. ¹⁹ For you, ^(F)being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. ²⁰ For you tolerate it if anyone ^(G)enslaves you, if anyone ^(H)devours you, if anyone ^(I)takes advantage of you, if anyone ^(J)exalts himself, if anyone ^(K)hits you in the face. ²¹ To my ^(L)shame I must say that we have been ^(M)weak by comparison.

But in whatever respect anyone else ^(N)is bold—I am ^(O)speaking in foolishness—I too am bold. ²² Are they ^(P)Hebrews? ^(Q)So am I. Are they ^(R)Israelites? ^(S)So am I. Are they ^[b](T)descendants of Abraham? ^(U)So am I. ²³ Are they ^(V)servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if insane—I more so; in ^(W)far more labors, in ^(X)far more imprisonments, ^[c](Y)beaten times without number, often in danger of ^(Z)death. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews ^(AA)thirty-nine lashes. ²⁵ Three times I was ^(AB)beaten with rods, once I was ^(AC)stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea. ²⁶ I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my ^(AD)countrymen, dangers from the ^(AE)Gentiles, dangers in the ^(AF)city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among ^(AG)false brothers; ²⁷ I have been in ^(AH)labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in ^(AI)hunger and thirst, often ^(AJ)without food, in cold and ^[d](AK)exposure. ²⁸ Apart from such ^[e]external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for ^(AL)all the churches. ²⁹ Who is ^(AM)weak without my being weak? Who is ^[f]led into sin ^[g]without my intense concern?

³⁰ If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my ^(AN)weakness. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, ^(AO)He who is blessed forever, ^(AP)knows that I am not lying. ³² In ^(AQ)Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was ^(AR)guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, ³³ and I was let down in a basket ^(AS)through a window ^[h]in the wall, and so escaped his hands.

Paul’s Vision

12 ^(AT)Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and ^(AU)revelations ^[i]of the Lord. ² I know a man ^(AV)in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, ^(AW)God knows—such a man was ^(AX)caught up to the ^(AY)third heaven. ³ And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ^(AZ)God knows— ⁴ was ^(BA)caught up into ^(BB)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. ^5 (BC)In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my ^(BD)weaknesses. ⁶ For if I do wish to boast I will not be ^(BE)foolish, ^(BF)for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

A Thorn in the Flesh

⁷ Because of the extraordinary greatness of the ^(BG)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a ^(BH)thorn in the flesh, a ^(BI)messenger of Satan to ^[j]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord ^(BJ)three times that it might leave me. ⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(BK)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ^(BL)boast ^[k]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(BM)I delight in weaknesses, in ^[l]insults, in ^(BN)distresses, in ^(BO)persecutions, in ^(BP)difficulties, ^(BQ)in behalf of Christ; for ^(BR)when I am weak, then I am strong.