1. It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2. I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven.
3. I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),
4. how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5. On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
6. For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me.
7. By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.
8. Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.