The Daily Audio Bible

12 Doubtless, it is not profitable for me to boast. Yet, I will now come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

² More than fourteen years ago I knew a man in Christ, (whether he was in the body, I cannot tell, or out of the body, I cannot tell; God knows.) who was taken up into the third heaven.

³ And I knew such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell; God knows).

⁴ How that he was taken up into Paradise, and heard words which cannot be spoken, which are not possible for man to utter.

⁵ Of such a man I will boast. Of myself I will not boast, except that it be of my weakness.

⁶ For though I would desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think me above that which he sees in me, or hears of me;

⁷ and lest I should be exalted out of measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, because I should not be exalted out of measure.

⁸ For this thing I implored the Lord three times, that it might depart from me.

⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you. For My power is made perfect through weakness.” Therefore, rather, I will very gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

¹⁰ Therefore, I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in anguish for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.