1 Gloriari oportet; non expedit quidem, veniam autem ad visiones etrevelationes Domini. | 1 If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed): but I will come 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 a man in Christ above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up to the third heaven. |
3 Et scio huiusmodi hominem — sive in corpore sive extracorpus nescio, Deus scit — | 3 And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth): |
4 quoniam raptus est in paradisum et audivit arcanaverba, quae non licet homini loqui. | 4 That he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words, which it is not granted to man to utter. |
5 Pro eiusmodi gloriabor; pro me autem nihilgloriabor nisi in infirmitatibus meis. | 5 For such an one I will glory; but for myself I will glory nothing, but in my infirmities. |
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 For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me. |
7 et ex magnitudine revelationum. Propter quod,ne extollar, datus est mihi stimulus carni, angelus Satanae, ut me colaphizet,ne extollar. | 7 And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. |
8 Propter quod ter Dominum rogavi, ut discederet a me; | 8 For which thing thrice I besought the Lord, that it might depart from 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 And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in 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 For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful. |
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 am become foolish: you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you: for I have no way come short of them that are above measure apostles, although I be nothing. |
12 signa tamen apostoli facta sunt super vos in omni patientia, signis quoque etprodigiis et virtutibus. | 12 Yet the signs of my apostleship have been wrought on you, in all patience, in 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 For what is there that you have had less than the other churches, but that I myself was not burthensome to you? Pardon me this injury. |
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 Behold now the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burthensome unto you. For I seek not the things that are yours, but you. For neither ought the children to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. |
15 Ego autem libentissime impendam etsuperimpendar ipse pro animabus vestris. Si plus vos diligo, minus diligar?
| 15 But I most gladly will spend and be spent myself for your souls; although loving you more, I be loved less. |
16 Esto quidem, ego vos non gravavi; sed cum essem astutus, dolo vos cepi. | 16 But be it so: I did not burthen you: but being crafty, I caught you by guile. |
17 Numquid per aliquem eorum, quos misi ad vos, circumveni vos? | 17 Did I overreach you by any of them whom I sent to you? |
18 Rogavi Titum etmisi cum illo fratrem; numquid Titus vos circumvenit? Nonne eodem spirituambulavimus? Nonne iisdem vestigiis?
| 18 I desired Titus, and I sent with him a brother. Did Titus overreach you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? did we not in the same steps? |
19 Olim putatis quod excusemus nos apud vos? Coram Deo in Christo loquimur;omnia autem, carissimi, propter vestram aedificationem. | 19 Of old, think you that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ; but all things, my dearly beloved, for your edification. |
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 lest perhaps when I come I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you such as you would not. Lest perhaps contentions, envyings, animosities, dissensions, detractions, whisperings, swellings, seditions, be among you. |
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 Lest again, when I come, God humble me among you: and I mourn many of them that sinned before, and have not done penance for the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, that they have committed. |