²¹ To my shame I admit that we were too weak^(A) for that!

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.^{(B) 22} Are they Hebrews? So am I.^(C) Are they Israelites? So am I.^(D) Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.^{(E) 23} Are they servants of Christ?^(F) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,^(G) been in prison more frequently,^(H) been flogged more severely,^(I) and been exposed to death again and again.^{(J) 24} Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes^(K) minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods,^(L) once I was pelted with stones,^(M) three times I was shipwrecked,^(N) I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews,^(O) in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,^(P) in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.^{(Q) 27} I have labored and toiled^(R) and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;^(S) I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.^{(T) 29} Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?^(U) Who is led into sin,^(V) and I do not inwardly burn?

³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast^(W) of the things that show my weakness.^{(X) 31} The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever,^(Y) knows^(Z) that I am not lying. ³² In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.^{(AA) 33} But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.^(AB)

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting.^(AC) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations^(AD) from the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ^(AE) who fourteen years ago was caught up^(AF) to the third heaven.^(AG) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.^{(AH) 3} And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— ⁴ was caught up^(AI) to paradise^(AJ) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. ⁵ I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.^{(AK) 6} Even if I should choose to boast,^(AL) I would not be a fool,^(AM) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, ⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations.^(AN) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,^(AO) a messenger of Satan,^(AP) to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.^{(AQ) 9} But he said to me, “My grace^(AR) is sufficient for you, for my power^(AS) is made perfect in weakness.^(AT)”^(AU) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.