Epistula II ad Corinthios, 1

1. Paulus, apostolus Christi Iesu per voluntatem Dei, et Timo theus frater ecclesiae Dei, quae est Corinthi, cum sanctis omnibus, qui sunt in universa Achaia:

1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Acha'ia:

2. gratia vobis et pax a Deo Patre nostro et Domino Iesu Christo.

2. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Benedictus Deus et Pater Domini nostri Iesu Christi, Pater misericordiarum et Deus totius consolationis,

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

4. qui consolatur nos in omni tribulatione nostra, ut possimus et ipsi consolari eos, qui in omni pressura sunt, per exhortationem, qua exhortamur et ipsi a Deo;

4. who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5. quoniam, sicut abundant passiones Christi in nobis, ita per Christum abundat et consolatio nostra.

5. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

6. Sive autem tribulamur, pro vestra exhortatione et salute; sive exhortamur, pro vestra exhortatione, quae operatur in tolerantia earundem passionum, quas et nos patimur.

6. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.

7. Et spes nostra firma pro vobis, scientes quoniam, sicut socii passionum estis, sic eritis et consolationis.

7. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

8. Non enim volumus ignorare vos, fratres, de tribulatione nostra, quae facta est in Asia, quoniam supra modum gravati sumus supra virtutem, ita ut taederet nos etiam vivere;

8. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself.

9. sed ipsi in nobis ipsis responsum mortis habuimus, ut non simus fidentes in nobis sed in Deo, qui suscitat mortuos:

9. Why, we felt that we had received the sentence of death; but that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead;

10. qui de tanta morte eripuit nos et eruet, in quem speramus, et adhuc eripiet;

10. he delivered us from so deadly a peril, and he will deliver us; on him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

11. adiuvantibus et vobis in oratione pro nobis, ut propter eam, quae ex multis personis in nos est, donationem, per multos gratiae agantur pro nobis.

11. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers.

12. Nam gloria nostra haec est, testimonium conscientiae nostrae, quod in simplicitate et sinceritate Dei et non in sapientia carnali, sed in gratia Dei conversati sumus in mundo, abundantius autem ad vos.

12. For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we have behaved in the world, and still more toward you, with holiness and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God.

13. Non enim alia scribimus vobis quam quae legitis aut etiam cognoscitis; spero autem quod usque in finem cognoscetis,

13. For we write you nothing but what you can read and understand; I hope you will understand fully,

14. sicut et cognovistis nos ex parte, quia gloria vestra sumus, sicut et vos nostra in die Domini nostri Iesu.

14. as you have understood in part, that you can be proud of us as we can be of you, on the day of the Lord Jesus.

15. Et hac confidentia volui prius venire ad vos, ut secundam gratiam haberetis,

15. Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a double pleasure;

16. et per vos transire in Macedoniam et iterum a Macedonia venire ad vos et a vobis deduci in Iudaeam.

16. I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedo'nia, and to come back to you from Macedo'nia and have you send me on my way to Judea.

17. Cum hoc ergo voluissem, numquid levitate usus sum? Aut, quae cogito, secundum carnem cogito, ut sit apud me “Est, est” et “Non, non”?

17. Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans like a worldly man, ready to say Yes and No at once?

18. Fidelis autem Deus, quia sermo noster, qui fit apud vos, non est “Est” et “Non”!

18. As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No.

19. Dei enim Filius Iesus Christus, qui in vobis per nos praedicatus est, per me et Silvanum et Timotheum, non fuit “Est” et “Non”, sed “Est” in illo fuit.

19. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we preached among you, Silva'nus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes.

20. Quotquot enim promissiones Dei sunt, in illo “Est”; ideo et per ipsum “Amen” Deo ad gloriam per nos.

20. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of God.

21. Qui autem confirmat nos vobiscum in Christum et qui unxit nos, Deus,

21. But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us;

22. et qui signavit nos et dedit arrabonem Spiritus in cordibus nostris.

22. he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

23. Ego autem testem Deum invoco in animam meam, quod parcens vobis non veni ultra Corinthum.

23. But I call God to witness against me -- it was to spare you that I refrained from coming to Corinth.

24. Non quia dominamur fidei vestrae, sed adiutores sumus gaudii vestri, nam fide stetistis.

24. Not that we lord it over your faith; we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.