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12 ¶ Mwen blije ap vante tèt mwen, atout mwen konnen sa pa bon. Men, m'ap vin koulye a sou vizyon ak revelasyon Seyè a te ban mwen.

Mwen konnen yon moun k'ap viv nan Kris la, ki te transpòte jouk anwo nèt nan syèl la. Sa gen katòzan depase. (Mwen pa konn ki jan sa te fè fèt, mwen pa ka di si l' te moute tout bon nan kò l', osinon si se te yon vizyon li te fè. Se Bondye sèl ki konnen.)

Wi, mwen konnen nonm sa a te santi l' moute jouk anwo nan paradi. M'ap repete, mwen pa ka di si li te moute tout bon nan kò l', osinon si se te yon vizyon li te fè. Se Bondye sèl ki konnen.

Antan l' te la, li tande yon bann pawòl bouch moun pa ka pale, koze moun pa gen dwa repete.

Enben, m'ap fè lwanj nonm sa a, mwen p'ap fè lwanj tèt pa m', esepte si se pou m' moutre jan m' fèb.

Si mwen te vle vante tèt mwen, mwen pa ta yon nonm fou non, paske mwen pa t'ap bay manti. Men, mwen refize vante tèt mwen. Mwen pa ta vle pou yon moun rive konprann mwen plis pase sa li te met nan tèt li mwen ye, lè l' te wè sa m'ap fè, lè l' tande sa m'ap di.

Malgre sa, pou lògèy pa fè m' gonfle avèk kalite bèl revelasyon sa yo mwen resevwa, yo ban m' yon kalite maladi nan kò m' k'ap fè m' soufri, ou ta di yon zanj Satan voye maltrete m' pou anpeche m' gen lògèy.

An twa fwa mwen lapriyè Seyè a pou maladi sa a, mwen mande l' pou l' wete li sou mwen.

Chak fwa, li reponn mwen: Se favè m' ase ou bezwen. Paske lè ou fèb, se lè sa a moun wè pouvwa mwen nan ou. Se poutèt sa, nan fon kè m', mwen pito pale sou feblès mwen pou pouvwa Kris la ka mete m' anba zèl li.

10 Se sak fè tou mwen kontan anpil lè m' santi m' fèb, lè y'ap joure m', lè m' nan lafliksyon, lè m' anba pèseksyon, lè m' nan fikilte, lè m'ap sibi tou sa akòz Kris la. Paske lè m' fèb, se lè sa a mwen gen fòs.

11 ¶ Mwen sot pale la a tankou moun fou. Men, se nou menm ki lakòz sa. Se nou menm ki pou ta pran defans mwen. Mwen te mèt pa anyen vre, men, apòt nou yo ki kwè yo plis pase tout moun, yo pa gen anyen pase mwen.

12 Avèk anpil pasyans, Bondye fè nou wè kont siy, kont mirak, kont bèl bagay ki rive nan mitan nou, tou sa pou ban nou prèv se yon apòt mwen ye.

13 Mwen pa t' sou kont nou, se vre. Mwen mande nou padon pou fòt sa a. Men, apa sa, kisa yo fè pou lòt legliz yo yo pa fè pou nou?

14 Mwen pare koulye a pou m' vin lakay nou yon twazyèm fwa. Fwa sa a ankò mwen p'ap sou kont nou. Se nou menm menm mwen bezwen, se pa lajan nou. Konprann sa byen, se pa pitit ki pou fè lajan pou pran swen manman ak papa. Se manman ak papa ki pou fè lajan pou pran swen pitit.

15 Pou mwen menm, m'ap kontan depanse tou sa m' genyen, se va tout plezi m' pou m' bay ata tèt mwen pou nanm nou ka pwofite. Eske n'a renmen m' mwens paske mwen renmen nou anpil konsa?

16 Se pou nou admèt mwen pa t' janm yon chay pou nou. Men, gen moun ki va di: Pòl se yon nonm ki malen wi. Gade jan li pran nou nan pèlen ak yon bann manti.

17 Nan moun mwen te voye lakay nou, èske gen ladan yo ki te souse nou?

18 Mwen te mande Tit pou li al lakay nou. Mwen te voye lòt frè a ansanm avè li. Eske nou ka di Tit te egzije kichòy nan men nou? Eske mwen menm ansanm ak Tit, nou pa gen menm rezòn pou n' aji jan nou aji a? Eske nou pa kondi tèt nou menm jan an?

19 Nou dwe mete nan tèt nou koulye a se chache m'ap chache defann tèt mwen devan nou? enben non! M'ap pale jan Kris la vle l' la, mwen pran Bondye pou temwen: Mwen di nou tout bagay sa yo, mezanmi, pou nou ka grandi nan lafwa.

20 Mwen pè pou lè m' rive lakay nou, mwen pa jwenn nou jan mwen ta vle l' la. Mwen pè pou m' pa jwenn kont, jalouzi, bouyay, rayisab, joure, tripotaj, lògèy, dezòd nan mitan nou.

21 Mwen pè pou lè m' rive lakay nou, Bondye m'ap sèvi a pa rabese m' ankò devan nou, pou m' pa bezwen nan kriye pou anpil nan nou ki te fè peche anvan sa, epi ki pa tounen vin jwenn Bondye, men ki toujou rete nan malpwòpte yo, nan imoralite yo, nan tout vis yo t'ap fè yo.

12 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

The Vision of Paradise

12 It is [a]doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to (A)visions and (B)revelations of the Lord: I know a man (C)in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one (D)was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— how he was caught up into (E)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not (F)boast, except in my infirmities. For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

The Thorn in the Flesh

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a (G)thorn in the flesh was given to me, (H)a messenger of Satan to [b]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. (I)Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly (J)I will rather boast in my infirmities, (K)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore (L)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. (M)For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Signs of an Apostle

11 I have become (N)a fool [c]in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for (O)in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though (P)I am nothing. 12 (Q)Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and (R)wonders and mighty (S)deeds. 13 For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Love for the Church

14 (T)Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for (U)I do not seek yours, but you. (V)For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent (W)for your souls; though (X)the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

16 But be that as it may, (Y)I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! 17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus, and sent our (Z)brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

19 (AA)Again, [d]do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? (AB)We speak before God in Christ. (AC)But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that (AD)I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again, my God (AE)will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many (AF)who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, (AG)fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:1 NU necessary, though not profitable, to boast
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:7 beat
  3. 2 Corinthians 12:11 NU omits in boasting
  4. 2 Corinthians 12:19 NU You have been thinking for a long time that we

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting.(A) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations(B) from the Lord. I know a man in Christ(C) who fourteen years ago was caught up(D) to the third heaven.(E) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.(F) And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up(G) to paradise(H) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.(I) Even if I should choose to boast,(J) I would not be a fool,(K) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations.(L) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,(M) a messenger of Satan,(N) to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.(O) But he said to me, “My grace(P) is sufficient for you, for my power(Q) is made perfect in weakness.(R)(S) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight(T) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,(U) in persecutions,(V) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(W)

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

11 I have made a fool of myself,(X) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”[a](Y) even though I am nothing.(Z) 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.(AA) 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?(AB) Forgive me this wrong!(AC)

14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,(AD) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,(AE) but parents for their children.(AF) 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.(AG) If I love you more,(AH) will you love me less? 16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.(AI) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18 I urged(AJ) Titus(AK) to go to you and I sent our brother(AL) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God(AM) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,(AN) is for your strengthening.(AO) 20 For I am afraid that when I come(AP) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be.(AQ) I fear that there may be discord,(AR) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,(AS) slander,(AT) gossip,(AU) arrogance(AV) and disorder.(AW) 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved(AX) over many who have sinned earlier(AY) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery(AZ) in which they have indulged.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:11 Or the most eminent apostles