2 Corinthians 11:30-12:14

New International Version

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

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting.^(G) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations^(H) from the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ^(I) who fourteen years ago was caught up^(J) to the third heaven.^(K) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.^{(L) 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^(M) to paradise^(N) 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.^{(O) 6} Even if I should choose to boast,^(P) I would not be a fool,^(Q) 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.^(R) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,^(S) a messenger of Satan,^(T) to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.^{(U) 9} But he said to me, “My grace^(V) is sufficient for you, for my power^(W) is made perfect in weakness.^(X)”^(Y) 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^(Z) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,^(AA) in persecutions,^(AB) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(AC)

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

¹¹ I have made a fool of myself,^(AD) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”^[a](AE) even though I am nothing.^{(AF) 12} I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.^{(AG) 13} How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?^(AH) Forgive me this wrong!^(AI)

¹⁴ Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,^(AJ) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,^(AK) but parents for their children.^(AL)