6 [11:21]I speak of reproach as if we were weak; wherein any one is bold, I speak foolishly, I am bold also. [11:22]Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the posterity of Abraham? so am I. [11:23]Are they ministers of Christ? I speak foolishly, I am more; in labors most abundant, in stripes above measure, in imprisonments most abundant, in deaths often; [11:24]five times I received of the Jews forty [stripes] lacking one, [11:25] thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice have I been shipwrecked, a night and a day have I spent in the deep; [11:26]often on journeys, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from [my own] race, in dangers from gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers on the sea, in dangers among false brothers, [11:27]in labor and weariness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. [11:28]Besides things without, that which comes upon me daily, the care of all the churches. [11:29]Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I am not displeased? [11:30]If it is necessary to boast, I will boast of my infirmities. [11:31]The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I lie not. [11:32]In Damascus, the ethnarch, when Aretas was king, guarded the city of the Damascenes, desiring to take me, [11:33]and I was let down in a rope-basket, by a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands. 7 [12:1]It is not expedient therefore for me to boast [of these things]; for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. [12:2]I know a man, in Christ above fourteen years, whether in the body I know not, or out of the body I know not, God knows,--such a one caught up to the third heaven. [12:3]I know even such a man,--whether in the body or out of the body I know not, God knows,-- [12:4]that he was caught up to paradise, and heard unutterable words, which it is not lawful for man to speak. [12:5]Of such a one will I boast, but of myself I will not boast except of my infirmities. [12:6]For if I shall wish to boast I shall not be foolish, for I will tell the truth. But I forbear, lest any one should think of me beyond what he sees or hears of me. 8 [12:7]And that I might not be elated with my extraordinary revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to beat me, that I should not be too much exalted. [12:8]For this I besought the Lord thrice that it might leave me. [12:9]And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you; for power is perfected in weakness. [12:10]Most gladly, therefore, will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Wherefore I am well pleased with infirmities, with injuries, with necessities, with persecutions, with distresses for Christ; for when I am weak, then am I strong.