12 ¹ I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 12 ² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 12 ³ And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows - 12 ⁴ and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 12 ⁵ On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 12 ⁶ Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 12 ⁷ And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. 12 ⁸ Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; 12 ⁹ but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 12 ¹⁰ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.