7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations there was given to me a thorn in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet me lest I should be exalted above measure 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me 9 And he said unto me My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christ's sake for when I am weak then am I strong
11 I am become a fool in glorying ye have compelled me for I ought to have been commended of you for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles __ though I be nothing 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience in signs and wonders and mighty deeds 13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you forgive me this wrong
14 Behold the third time I am ready to come to you and I will not be burdensome to you for I seek not yours but you for the children ought not to lay up for the parents but the parents for the children 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you __ though the more abundantly I love you the less I be loved 16 But be it so I did not burden you nevertheless being crafty I caught you with guile 17 Did I make a gain __ of you by any of them whom I sent unto you 18 I desired Titus and with him I sent a brother Did __ Titus make a gain of you walked we not in the same spirit walked we not in the same steps
19 Again think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you we speak before God in Christ but we do all things dearly beloved for your edifying 20 For I fear lest __ when I come I shall not find you such as I would and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not lest __ there be debates envyings wraths strifes backbitings whisperings swellings tumults 21 And lest when I come again my God will humble me among you and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed
