2Corinthians:12

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* Certainly it is not expedient for me to glory , but I will come to [the ] visions and [the ] revelations of the Lord . * I know a man in Christ [who ] fourteen years ago (whether in the body , I cannot tell ; or whether out of the body , I cannot tell ; God knows ) was caught up to the third heaven . * And I know such a man (whether in the body , or out of the body , I cannot tell ; God knows ) * who was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words , which it is not lawful for a man to utter . * Of such a one I will glory , yet of myself I will not glory , except in my weaknesses . * Therefore if I should desire to glory [in these things ], I should not be a fool ; for I would say the truth , but [now ] I forbear lest anyone should think of me above that which he sees me [to be ] or [that ] he hears of me . * And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me above measure , there is given to me a thorn in the flesh , a messenger of Satan to buffet me , lest I should be exalted above measure . * For this thing I besought the Lord three times that it might be taken from me . * And he said unto me , My grace is sufficient for thee ; for my strength is made perfect in weakness . Most gladly , therefore , I will rather glory in my weaknesses that the power of Christ may dwell in me . * Therefore I am content in weaknesses , in reproaches , in necessities , in persecutions , in distresses for Christ 's sake , for when I am weak , then am I strong . * I have been a fool , glorying ; ye have compelled me ; for I ought to have been commended of you , for in nothing am I behind the grandiose apostles , though I am nothing . * Truly the signs of the apostle were worked out among you in all patience , in signs and wonders and power . * For what is it in which ye were inferior to the other churches except in that I myself was not burdensome to you ? forgive me this wrong . * Behold , the third time I am ready to come to you , and I will not be burdensome to you , for I seek not your things , but you ; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents , but the parents for the children . * And I will very gladly spend and be utterly spent for your souls though the more abundantly I love you , the less I am loved . * But be it so , I did not burden you ; nevertheless , being crafty , I caught you with guile . * Did I make a gain of you by any of those whom I sent unto you ? * I besought Titus and with [him ] I sent a brother . Did Titus defraud you ? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and in the same steps ? * Again , do ye think that we excuse ourselves unto you ? We speak before God in Christ , but [we do ] all things , dearly beloved , for your edifying . * For I fear , lest , when I come , I shall not find you such as I desire and [that ] I shall be found unto you such as ye desire not , lest [there be ] debates , envyings , wraths , strifes , backbitings , whisperings , rumours , tumults , * lest , when I come again , my God will humble me among you , and I would have to mourn over many who have sinned already and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed .:

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