1 Gloriari oportet; non expedit quidem, veniam autem ad visiones etrevelationes Domini. | 1 I must boast; not that it is profitable, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. |
2 Scio hominem in Christo ante annos quattuordecim — sivein corpore nescio, sive extra corpus nescio, Deus scit — raptum eiusmodi usquead tertium caelum. | 2 I know someone in Christ who, fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows), was caught up to the third heaven. |
3 Et scio huiusmodi hominem — sive in corpore sive extracorpus nescio, Deus scit — | 3 And I know that this person (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) |
4 quoniam raptus est in paradisum et audivit arcanaverba, quae non licet homini loqui. | 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard ineffable things, which no one may utter. |
5 Pro eiusmodi gloriabor; pro me autem nihilgloriabor nisi in infirmitatibus meis. | 5 About this person I will boast, but about myself I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. |
6 Nam, et si voluero gloriari, non eroinsipiens, veritatem enim dicam; parco autem, ne quis in me existimet supra id,quod videt me aut audit ex me, | 6 Although if I should wish to boast, I would not be foolish, for I would be telling 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 et ex magnitudine revelationum. Propter quod,ne extollar, datus est mihi stimulus carni, angelus Satanae, ut me colaphizet,ne extollar. | 7 because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. |
8 Propter quod ter Dominum rogavi, ut discederet a me; | 8 Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, |
9 et dixitmihi: “ Sufficit tibi gratia mea, nam virtus in infirmitate perficitur ”.Libentissime igitur potius gloriabor in infirmitatibus meis, ut inhabitet in mevirtus Christi. | 9 but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. |
10 Propter quod placeo mihi in infirmitatibus, in contumeliis,in necessitatibus, in persecutionibus et in angustiis, pro Christo; cum eniminfirmor, tunc potens sum.
| 10 Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. |
11 Factus sum insipiens. Vos me coegistis; ego enim debui a vobis commendari.Nihil enim minus fui ab his, qui sunt supra modum apostoli, tametsi nihil sum; | 11 I have been foolish. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I am in no way inferior to these "superapostles," even though I am nothing. |
12 signa tamen apostoli facta sunt super vos in omni patientia, signis quoque etprodigiis et virtutibus. | 12 The signs of an apostle were performed among you with all endurance, signs and wonders, and mighty deeds. |
13 Quid est enim quod minus habuistis prae ceterisecclesiis, nisi quod ego ipse non gravavi vos? Donate mihi hanc iniuriam.
| 13 In what way were you less privileged than the rest of the churches, except that on my part I did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! |
14 Ecce tertio hoc paratus sum venire ad vos et non ero gravis vobis; non enimquaero, quae vestra sunt, sed vos; nec enim debent filii parentibusthesaurizare, sed parentes filiis. | 14 Now I am ready to come to you this third time. And I will not be a burden, for I want not what is yours, but you. Children ought not to save for their parents, but parents for their children. |
15 Ego autem libentissime impendam etsuperimpendar ipse pro animabus vestris. Si plus vos diligo, minus diligar?
| 15 I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your sakes. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? |
16 Esto quidem, ego vos non gravavi; sed cum essem astutus, dolo vos cepi. | 16 But granted that I myself did not burden you, yet I was crafty and got the better of you by deceit. |
17 Numquid per aliquem eorum, quos misi ad vos, circumveni vos? | 17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those I sent to you? |
18 Rogavi Titum etmisi cum illo fratrem; numquid Titus vos circumvenit? Nonne eodem spirituambulavimus? Nonne iisdem vestigiis?
| 18 I urged Titus to go and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? And in the same steps? |
19 Olim putatis quod excusemus nos apud vos? Coram Deo in Christo loquimur;omnia autem, carissimi, propter vestram aedificationem. | 19 Have you been thinking all along that we are defending ourselves before you? In the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and all for building you up, beloved. |
20 Timeo enim, ne forte,cum venero, non quales volo, inveniam vos, et ego inveniar a vobis, qualem nonvultis; ne forte contentiones, aemulationes, animositates, dissensiones,detractiones, susurrationes, inflationes, seditiones sint; | 20 For I fear that when I come I may find you not such as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish; that there may be rivalry, jealousy, fury, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. |
21 ne iterum, cumvenero, humiliet me Deus meus apud vos, et lugeam multos ex his, qui antepeccaverunt et non egerunt paenitentiam super immunditia et fornicatione etimpudicitia, quam gesserunt.
| 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and licentiousness they practiced. |