2 I know a man in Messiah (whether in the body I don’t know, or whether out of the body I don’t know—God knows)—fourteen years ago, he was caught up to the third heaven.
3 I know such a man (whether in the body or outside of the body I don’t know—God knows)—
4 he was caught up into Paradise and heard words too sacred to tell, which a human is not permitted to utter.
5 On behalf of such a man I will boast—but about myself I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
6 For if I should want to boast, I would not be foolish—for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from me—
7 even in the extraordinary quality of the revelations. So that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me—a a messenger of satan to torment me, so I would not exalt myself.
8 I pleaded with the Lord three times about this, that it might leave me.