Epistula II ad Corinthios, 12

1. Gloriari oportet; non expedit quidem, veniam autem ad visiones et revelationes Domini.

1. I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2. Scio hominem in Christo ante annos quattuordecim — sive in corpore nescio, sive extra corpus nescio, Deus scit — raptum eiusmodi usque ad tertium caelum.

2. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.

3. Et scio huiusmodi hominem — sive in corpore sive extra corpus nescio, Deus scit —

3. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows --

4. quoniam raptus est in paradisum et audivit arcana verba, quae non licet homini loqui.

4. and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.

5. Pro eiusmodi gloriabor; pro me autem nihil gloriabor nisi in infirmitatibus meis.

5. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.

6. Nam, et si voluero gloriari, non ero insipiens, veritatem enim dicam; parco autem, ne quis in me existimet supra id, quod videt me aut audit ex me,

6. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than 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. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated.

8. Propter quod ter Dominum rogavi, ut discederet a me;

8. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me;

9. et dixit mihi: “Sufficit tibi gratia mea, nam virtus in infirmitate perficitur”. Libentissime igitur potius gloriabor in infirmitatibus meis, ut inhabitet in me virtus Christi.

9. but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10. Propter quod placeo mihi in infirmitatibus, in contumeliis, in necessitatibus, in persecutionibus et in angustiis, pro Christo; cum enim infirmor, tunc potens sum.

10. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; 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 a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these superlative apostles, even though I am nothing.

12. signa tamen apostoli facta sunt super vos in omni patientia, signis quoque et prodigiis et virtutibus.

12. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.

13. Quid est enim quod minus habuistis prae ceteris ecclesiis, nisi quod ego ipse non gravavi vos? Donate mihi hanc iniuriam.

13. For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

14. Ecce tertio hoc paratus sum venire ad vos et non ero gravis vobis; non enim quaero, quae vestra sunt, sed vos; nec enim debent filii parentibus thesaurizare, sed parentes filiis.

14. Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you; for children ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children.

15. Ego autem libentissime impendam et superimpendar ipse pro animabus vestris. Si plus vos diligo, minus diligar?

15. I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less?

16. Esto quidem, ego vos non gravavi; sed cum essem astutus, dolo vos cepi.

16. But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by guile.

17. Numquid per aliquem eorum, quos misi ad vos, circumveni vos?

17. Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you?

18. Rogavi Titum et misi cum illo fratrem; numquid Titus vos circumvenit? Nonne eodem spiritu ambulavimus? Nonne iisdem vestigiis?

18. I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take 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 have been defending ourselves before you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.

20. Timeo enim, ne forte, cum venero, non quales volo, inveniam vos, et ego inveniar a vobis, qualem non vultis; ne forte contentiones, aemulationes, animositates, dissensiones, detractiones, susurrationes, inflationes, seditiones sint;

20. For I fear that perhaps I may come and find you not what I wish, and that you may find me not what you wish; that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

21. ne iterum, cum venero, humiliet me Deus meus apud vos, et lugeam multos ex his, qui ante peccaverunt et non egerunt paenitentiam super immunditia et fornicatione et impudicitia, quam gesserunt.

21. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned before and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and licentiousness which they have practiced.