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1It does not seem like a good thing for me to keep “bragging like this,” but I now want to tell you about the sacred visions shown to me by the Great Spirit.
2-3Let me tell you the story of a man I know, a follower of the Chosen One. Fourteen winters ago this man was taken up into the highest place in the spirit-world above. If this happened to him in the body or outside the body, I do not know. Only the Great Spirit knows.[#12:2-3 Often translated in other English translations as “the third heaven”]
4This man was taken up into Creator’s Beautiful Garden, where he heard mysterious words that human beings are not permitted to speak.[#12:4 Lit. paradise]
5I will brag about that man, but as for myself I will boast only in how small and weak I am.
6It would not be a foolish thing for me to brag about this, because I would be speaking the truth about myself. But I will hold back from saying too much, so that none of you will think too highly of me beyond what you hear me say and see me do.
7The things that were shown to me were so mysterious and powerful that I was given a thorn to stab me where I was weak, a messenger from Accuser (Satan) to prick my pride and keep me humble.
8Three times I begged our Honored Chief to remove this thorn from me.
9“The gift of my great kindness will give you the strength you need,” our Honored Chief said to me. “For the greatness of my power comes to the ones who understand how weak they are.”
So then, I am glad to brag even more about how weak I am, so it can be clearly seen that the power resting on me comes from the Chosen One.
10That is why I can take joy in those things that show how weak I am. Others can insult me, mistreat me, hunt me down, and make things hard for me, all because of my trust in the Chosen One. For when I am weak, Creator’s strength becomes my own.
11I may be acting like a fool, but you are to be blamed for it. You should have shown honor to me, for I am no less a message bearer than these puffed-up ones, even though I am nothing.
12The powerful signs and wonders that mark one as a true message bearer were performed among you with great patience.
13What have I done for the other sacred families that I have not done for you? Only that I did not become a burden to you. You must release me from this wrong!
14I am now ready to come to you for a third time. Once again I will not be a burden to you. I want you, not what you can give to me. For it is the parents who should provide for their children, and not children for their parents.
15It would make my heart glad to give all that I have and all that I am to you. If my love for you is so great, then why is your love for me so small?
16-17Since it is clear that I did not ask anything for myself, do you think I acted like a trickster to fool and cheat you by sending others to collect the offering?
18When I sent Big Man (Titus) and the other spiritual brother to you, did they take more than they should? You know that they did not. For Big Man (Titus) and I walk together in the same spirit on the same path.
19Have you been thinking all this time that we have been trying to prove ourselves to you? We have nothing to prove to you , for we speak with the words of the Chosen One and under the eyes of the Great Spirit. You are our much-loved ones, and everything we do is to lift you up and make you strong in him .
20But I fear that when I come to you we will not be walking in step with each other. I might find among you that there will be arguing, jealousy, uncontrolled anger, selfish desires, forked tongues, boastful talk, and hostile ways.
21This makes me afraid that when I come to you again the Great Spirit will humble me in front of you. For I will weep many tears for the ones who have been following their bad hearts and have not turned away from walking in impurity and uncontrolled sexual desires.