2 Corinthians 12

¹It is not expedient for me no doubt to reioyce: for I will come to visions and reuelations of the Lord.

²I know a man in Christ aboue fourteene yeeres agone, (whether he were in the body, I can not tell, or out of the body, I can not tell: God knoweth) which was taken vp into the thirde heauen.

³And I knowe such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I can not tell: God knoweth)

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

⁵Of such a man will I reioyce: of my selfe will I not reioyce, except it bee of mine infirmities.

⁶For though I woulde reioyce, I should not be a foole, for I will say the trueth: but I refraine, lest any man should thinke of me aboue that hee seeth in me, or that he heareth of me.

⁷And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the aboundance of reuelations, there was giuen vnto me a pricke in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet mee, because I should not be exalted out of measure.

⁸For this thing I besought the Lord thrise, that it might depart from me.

⁹And he said vnto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect through weakenesse. Very gladly therefore will I reioyce rather in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

¹⁰Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproches, in necessities, in persecutions, in anguish for Christes sake: for when I am weake, then am I strong.

¹¹I was a foole to boast my selfe: yee haue compelled mee: for I ought to haue bene commended of you: for in nothing was I inferiour vnto the very chiefe Apostles, though I bee nothing.