12 ¹ I AM OBLIGED TO BOAST. It does no good; but I shall go on to tell of visions and revelations granted by the Lord. 12 ² I know a Christian man who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of it, I do not know- God knows) was caught up as far as the third heaven. 12 ³ And I know that this same man (whether in the body or out of it, I do not know—God knows) 12 ⁴ was caught up into paradise, and heard words so secret that human lips may not repeat them. 12 ⁵ About such a man as that I am ready to boast; but I will not boast on my own account, except of my weaknesses. 12 ⁶ If I should choose to boast, it would not be the boast of a fool, for I should be speaking the truth. But I refrain, because I should not like anyone to form an estimate of me which goes beyond the evidence of his own eyes and ears. 12 ⁷ And so, to keep me from being unduly elated by the magnificence of such revelations, I was given Some witnesses read: ... ears, and because of the magnificence of the revelations themselves. Therefore to keep you from being unduly elated I was given ... a sharp physical pain Or: a painful wound to my pride (literally: a stake; Or: thorn, for the flesh). which came as Satan's messenger to bruise me; this was to save me from being unduly elated. 12 ⁸ Three times I begged the Lord to rid me of it, 12 ⁹ but his answer was: 'My grace is all you need; power comes to its full strength in weakness.' I shall therefore prefer to find my joy and pride in the very things that are my weakness; and then the power of Christ will come and rest upon me. 12 ¹⁰ Hence I am well content, for Christ's sake, with weakness, contempt, persecution, hardship, and frustration; for when I am weak, then I am strong.