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12:1  It is necessary to boast, but it is not beneficial, for I myself come to visions and revelations of Our Lord.
12:2  I knew a man in The Messiah more than 14 years ago, whether in the body or without the body, I do not know, God himself knows, who was snatched up unto the third Heaven.
12:3  And I knew this man, if in a body or if without the body, I do not know, God himself knows,
12:4  Who was snatched up to Paradise and heard words that are unspeakable, because it is not authorized for a man to speak them.
12:5  Concerning this man I shall glory, but concerning myself I shall not glory, except only in sufferings.
12:6  For if I have wished to boast, I have not been misbehaving, for I speak the truth; but I abstain, lest a man think of me more than what he sees in me and hears from me.
12:7  Lest I be lifted up by the abundance of revelations, a thorn for my flesh was handed over to me, an Angel of Satan to buffet me, lest I be lifted up.
12:8  And I begged of my Lord concerning this three times, to remove it from me.
12:9  And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” I shall therefore joyfully boast in my sufferings, that the power of The Messiah may rest upon me.
12:10  Because of this, I am pleased with suffering, with disgrace, with distress, with persecution, with imprisonment, which is for the person of The Messiah, for when I am weak, then I am strong.
12:11  Behold, I was stupid in my boasting, because you compelled me, for you were indebted to testify for me because I lacked nothing of those Apostles who greatly excelled, even though I was nothing.
12:12  I performed the signs of an Apostle among you with all patience and with heroic deeds, with wonders and miracles.
12:13  For what did you lack of other churches, except only in this, that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrongdoing!
12:14  Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I shall not be a burden to you, because I do not seek yours, but you; for children ought not lay up treasure for the parents but the parents for their children.
12:15  But I cheerfully also shall spend and I would even give up my person for the sake of your souls, even though, the more I love you, the less you love me.
12:16  And perhaps I was not a burden to you, but as a crafty man I robbed you by treachery.
12:17  Did I greedily desire what was yours by the agency of another man whom I sent to you?
12:18  When I asked Titus and sent the brethren with him, was Titus greedily desiring what was yours? Did we not walk in the same spirit and in the same steps?
12:19  Do you again think that we make excuses to you? We speak before God in The Messiah, and all these things, my beloved, are for your edification.
12:20  For I fear lest I come to you and shall not find you as I like, and I may be found by you also as you do not like, lest there be fighting, envy, rage, contention, slander, murmuring, insolence and tumult,
12:21  Lest when I come to you, my God would humble me and I would grieve over many who have sinned and have not returned from defilement, from fornication and from lewdness which they have practiced.