[1]Glorying must be, but it is not profitable: so I proceed to visions and revelations of our Lord. [2]I knew a man in the Messiah fourteen years ago, (but whether in a body, or whether out of a body, I know not; God knoweth :) who was caught up to the third [region] of heaven. [3]And I knew this same man; (but whether in a body, or out of a body, I know not; God knoweth ;) [4]and he was caught up to Paradise, and heard ineffable words, which it is not permitted a man to utter. [5]Of him I will glory: but of myself I will not glory, except in my infirmities. [6]Yet if I were disposed to glory, I should not be without reason; for I declare the truth. But I refrain, lest any one should think of me, beyond what he seeth in me and heareth from me. [7]And, that I might not be uplifted by the excellency of the revelations, there was imparted to me a thorn in my flesh, the angel of Satan, to buffet me, that I might not be uplifted. [8]Respecting this, I thrice besought my Lord, that it might depart from me. [9]And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my power is perfected in weakness. Gladly, therefore, will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of the Messiah may rest upon me. [10]Therefore I have pleasure in infirmities, in reproach, in afflictions, in persecutions, in distresses, which are for the Messiah's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. [11]Behold, I have become foolish in my glorying, for ye compelled me. For ye ought to bear witness for me; because I was inferior in nothing to those legates who most excel, although I was nothing. [12]I wrought among you the signs of the legates, with all patience; and in prodigies, and in wonders, and in mighty deeds. [13]For in what fell ye short of the other churches; except in this, that I was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this fault. [14]Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not burden you; for I seek not yours, but you: for children ought not to lay up treasures for the parents, but the parents for their children. [15]And cheerfully will I both pay [my] expenses, and also give myself for your souls; although the more I love you, the less ye love me. [16]But perhaps, though I was not burdensome to you, yet, like a cunning man, I filched from you by craftiness ! [17]Was it by the hand of some other person whom I sent to you, that I pilfered from you? [18]I requested Titus, and with him I sent the brethren: did Titus pilfer any thing from you? Did we not walk in one spirit, and in the same steps? [19]Do ye again suppose, that we would apologize to you? Before God, in the Messiah we speak: and all these things, my beloved, [are] for the sake of your edification. [20]For I fear, lest I should come to you and not find you such as I would wish; and lest I also should be found by you, such as ye would not wish; lest [there should be] contention, and envying, and anger, and obstinacy, and slandering, and murmuring, and insolence, and commotion; [21]lest, when I come to you, my God should humble me; and I should mourn over many, who have sinned, and have not repented of the impurity, the whoredom, and the lasciviousness, which they have committed.
Credit

Translation: James Murdock, D. D. (1852)
Source: aramaicnewtestament.org
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