² I know a man in Christ^(A) who fourteen years ago was caught up^(B) to the third heaven.^(C) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.^{(D) 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^(E) to paradise^(F) 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.^{(G) 6} Even if I should choose to boast,^(H) I would not be a fool,^(I) 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.^(J) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,^(K) a messenger of Satan,^(L) to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.^{(M) 9} But he said to me, “My grace^(N) is sufficient for you, for my power^(O) is made perfect in weakness.^(P)”^(Q) 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^(R) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,^(S) in persecutions,^(T) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(U)

⁶ Then I saw a Lamb,^(A) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures^(B) and the elders.^(C) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,^(D) which are the seven spirits^[a](E) of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.^{(F) 8} And when he had taken it, the four living creatures^(G) and the twenty-four elders^(H) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp^(I) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers^(J) of God’s people.