Boasting is needed, yet it is not profitable; so I come to visions and revelations of our Master.

I know a man in the Mashiyach fourteen years ago—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, Elohim knows—who was caught up as far as the third heaven.

And I know this same man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, Elohim knows—

that he was caught up to Paradise and heard words that are not spoken, which it is not permitted for a man to speak.

Of this one I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, except in weaknesses.

For if I should want to boast, I would not be a fool, for I am speaking the truth; yet I hold back, so that no one may think of me beyond what he sees in me and hears from me.

And so that I would not be lifted up by the excellence of the revelations, a thorn in my flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satana to buffet me, so that I would not be lifted up.

Concerning this I asked my Master three times that it would depart from me.

And he said to me, My grace is enough for you, for my power is perfected in weakness. Gladly therefore I will boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of the Mashiyach may rest on me.

Because of this I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in imprisonments, for the sake of the Mashiyach; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

I have become foolish in my boasting, for you compelled me. For you ought to have borne witness for me, because I was inferior in nothing to those apostles who excel more, even though I was nothing.

The signs of an apostle I worked among you with all patience, and with mighty deeds, and with wonders, and with power.

For in what were you made inferior to the other assemblies, except only in this, that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this folly.

This is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not seek what is yours but you. For children are not bound to lay up a store for the parents, but the parents for their children.

But I will gladly spend and be spent, and even give my own self for the sake of your souls, even though the more I love you, the less you love me.

But perhaps I was not a burden to you, yet like a crafty man I took you by deceit.

Did I take advantage of you through any other person whom I sent to you?

I asked Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take anything from you? Did we not walk in the same spirit and in the same steps?

Do you again suppose that we are making a defense to you? Before Elohim, in the Mashiyach we speak; and all these things, my beloved, are for the sake of your building up.

For I fear lest I come to you and not find you as I wish, and I also be found by you as you do not wish; lest there be contention and envy and anger and obstinacy and slander and murmuring and insolence and commotion;

lest when I come to you my Elohim humble me, and I mourn over many who have sinned and have not repented of the impurity and the whoredom and the lasciviousness which they have committed.