Visions and Revelations

12 [fn]Surely [fn]it is not beneficial for me to boast, yet I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. (Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows.) 3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or [fn]out of the body I do not know; God knows) 4 was caught up to Paradise and heard words too sacred to be spoken, which man is not permitted to utter. 5 I will boast on behalf of that man, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. 6 But even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. Nevertheless, I refrain so that no one will think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from [fn]me. 7 And to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations I received, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me so that I would not become conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for yoʋ, for [fn]my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 So I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, and in distresses for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.