Psalm 148

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)

⁷ Calling the Twelve to him,^(A) he began to send them out two by two^(B) and gave them authority over impure spirits.^(C)

⁸ These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. ⁹ Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. ¹⁰ Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. ¹¹ And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet^(D) as a testimony against them.”

¹² They went out and preached that people should repent.^{(E) 13} They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil^(F) and healed them.