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- I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
- I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.
- And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--
- was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.
- I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.
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- Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
- I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
- And I know how such a man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows--
- was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
- On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
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- Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.
- To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
- Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
- But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
- That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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- For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.
- Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself!
- Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.
- And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
- Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
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