The text of 2 Corinthians 11:33-12:9, in English, with the formatting removed while retaining the spaces:
i was let down in a basket through a window by the wall and escaped his hands it is doubtless not profitable for me to boast for i will come to visions and revelations of the lord i know a man in christ fourteen years ago whether in the body i dont know or whether out of the body i dont know god knows such a one caught up into the third heaven i know such a man whether in the body or outside of the body i dont know god knows how he was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter on behalf of such a one i will boast but on my own behalf i will not boast except in my weaknesses for if i would desire to boast i will not be foolish for i will speak the truth but i refrain so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me or hears from me by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations that i should not be exalted excessively a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of satan to torment me that i should not be exalted excessively concerning this thing i begged the lord three times that it might depart from me he has said to me my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness most gladly therefore i will rather glory in my weaknesses that the power of christ may rest on me
And the same text without the spaces:
iwasletdowninabasketthroughawindowbythewallandescapedhishandsitisdoubtlessnotprofitableformetoboastforiwillcometovisionsandrevelationsofthelordiknowamaninchristfourteenyearsagowhetherinthebodyidontknoworwhetheroutofthebodyidontknowgodknowssuchaonecaughtupintothethirdheaveniknowsuchamanwhetherinthebodyoroutsideofthebodyidontknowgodknowshowhewascaughtupintoparadiseandheardunspeakablewordswhichitisnotlawfulforamantoutteronbehalfofsuchaoneiwillboastbutonmyownbehalfiwillnotboastexceptinmyweaknessesforifiwoulddesiretoboastiwillnotbefoolishforiwillspeakthetruthbutirefrainsothatnomanmaythinkmoreofmethanthatwhichheseesinmeorhearsfrommebyreasonoftheexceedinggreatnessoftherevelationsthatishouldnotbeexaltedexcessivelyathorninthefleshwasgiventomeamessengerofsatantotormentmethatishouldnotbeexaltedexcessivelyconcerningthisthingibeggedthelordthreetimesthatitmightdepartfrommehehassaidtomemygraceissufficientforyouformypowerismadeperfectinweaknessmostgladlythereforeiwillrathergloryinmyweaknessesthatthepowerofchristmayrestonme
In reality the lines would end on a complete word, but you get the idea. Reading was not a casual or recreational pastime for most people. It was hard work.
The text is from the World English Bible, and is in the public domain.
Sat Sapienti 
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