² For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but ^(A)not before God.

³¹ so that, as it is written, ^(A)“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

^30 (A)If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

⁹ and be found in him, not having ^(A)a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but ^(B)that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For ^(A)necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

^9 (A)not a result of works, ^(B)so that no one may boast.

¹³ For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But far be it from me to boast ^(A)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which^[a] the world ^(B)has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

²² But the Scripture ^(A)imprisoned everything under sin, so that ^(B)the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given ^(C)to those who believe.

Paul's Visions and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and ^(A)revelations of the Lord. ² I know a man ^(B)in Christ who fourteen years ago was ^(C)caught up to ^(D)the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, ^(E)God knows. ³ And I know that this man was caught up into ^(F)paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, ^(G)God knows— ⁴ and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. ⁵ On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, ^(H)except of my weaknesses— ⁶ though if I should wish to boast, ^(I)I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. ⁷ So ^(J)to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,^{[a] (K)}a thorn was given me in the flesh, ^(L)a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ^8 (M)Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹ But he said to me, ^(N)“My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(O)my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that ^(P)the power of Christ may rest upon me.