ⲚⲒⲔⲞⲢⲒⲚⲐⲒⲞⲤ Ⲃ ̅ 12
I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
2 ⲃ̅ ϯⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲛⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ϩⲁⲑⲏ ⲙⲙⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲉ ⲛⲣⲟⲙⲡⲉ ⲉⲓⲧⲉ ⲉϥϩⲙ ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛϯⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲓⲧⲉ ⲉϥⲙⲡⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛϯⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲁⲩⲧⲱⲣⲡ ⲙⲡⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲉⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ ϣⲁ ⲧⲙⲉϩϣⲟⲙⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲉ
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows.
And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—
was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell.
I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
6 ⲋ̅ ⲉⲓϣⲁⲛⲟⲩⲉϣ ϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲛϯⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲛⲁⲑⲏⲧ ⲟⲩⲙⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲧⲉϯϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϯϯⲥⲟ ⲇⲉ ϫⲉ ⲙⲡⲣⲧⲣⲉ ⲟⲩⲁ ⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲉⲧϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲏ ⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓ ⲧⲟⲟⲧ
Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,
7 ⲍ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲛⲛⲁϫⲓⲥⲉ ⲛϩⲏⲧ ϩⲛ ⲧⲙⲛⲧⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲁⲡⲟⲕⲁⲗⲩⲯⲓⲥ ⲁⲩϯ ⲛⲟⲩⲥⲟⲩⲣⲉ ⲉⲧⲁⲥⲁⲣⲝ ⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲙⲡⲥⲁⲧⲁⲛⲁⲥ ϫⲉ ⲉϥⲉϯⲕⲗⲯ ⲉϫⲱⲓ ϫⲉ ⲛⲛⲁϫⲓⲥⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ
or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 ⲑ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲓ ϫⲉ ϩⲱ ⲉⲣⲟⲕ ⲉⲧⲁⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ ⲉϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲧϭⲟⲙ ⲅⲁⲣ ϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲧⲙⲛⲧϭⲱⲃ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲧⲟⲛ ϭⲉ ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲛϩⲟⲩⲟ ϯⲛⲁϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ϩⲛ ⲛⲁⲁⲥⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲥⲉⲟⲩⲱϩ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲱⲓ ⲛϭⲓ ⲧϭⲟⲙ ⲙⲡⲉⲭⲥ
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
10 ⲓ̅ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ϭⲉ ϯⲧⲏⲧ ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲙⲛⲧⲁⲧϭⲟⲙ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲥⲱϣ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲁⲛⲁⲅⲕⲏ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲇⲓⲱⲅⲙⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲗⲱϫϩ ϩⲁ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ϩⲟⲧⲁⲛ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲓϣⲁⲛⲣⲁⲧϭⲟⲙ ⲧⲟⲧⲉ ϣⲁⲓϭⲙϭⲟⲙ
That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ ⲁⲓϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲁⲑⲏⲧ ⲛⲧⲱⲧⲛ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲁⲅⲕⲁⲍⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉϣϣⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩⲥⲩⲛϩⲓⲥⲧⲁ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ϩⲓⲧⲉ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ⲙⲡⲓϣⲱⲱⲧ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲡⲁⲣⲁ ⲛⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲅ ⲟⲩⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲟⲛ
I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
The true marks of an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.
13 ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ ⲟⲩ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛϣⲱⲱⲧ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲡⲁⲣⲁ ⲡⲕⲉⲥⲉⲉⲡⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲉⲓⲙⲏⲧⲓ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲙⲡⲓⲟⲩⲉϩϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲕⲱ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲉⲓϫⲓ ⲛϭⲟⲛⲥ
In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ ⲡⲙⲉϩϣⲟⲙⲛⲧ ⲛⲥⲟⲡ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ϯⲥⲃⲧⲱⲧ ⲉⲉⲓ ϣⲁⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛϯⲛⲁⲟⲩⲉϩϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲁⲛ ⲛⲛⲉⲓϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲁⲛ ⲛⲥⲁ ⲛⲉⲧⲛⲛⲕⲁ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲛⲥⲱⲧⲛ ⲛⲉϣϣⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲛϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲉⲥⲱⲟⲩϩ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲛⲛⲉⲓⲟⲧⲉ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲛⲉⲓⲟⲧⲉ ⲛⲛϣⲏⲣⲉ
See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15 ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲡⲓⲑⲉ ϯϫⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲥⲉⲛⲁϫⲟⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲁ ⲛⲉⲧⲙⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲉϣϫⲉ ϯⲙⲉ ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲛ ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲙⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲛⲟⲩϣⲏⲙ
And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?
18 ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ ⲁⲓⲡⲁⲣⲁⲕⲁⲗⲉⲓ ⲛⲧⲓⲧⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲓⲧⲛⲛⲉⲩⲡⲥⲟⲛ ⲛⲙⲙⲁϥ ⲙⲏⲧⲓ ⲁⲧⲓⲧⲟⲥ ϥⲉϭ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ⲛⲧⲁⲛⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲁⲛ ϩⲙ ⲡⲓⲡⲛⲁ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ ϩⲛ ⲛⲓϩⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ
I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
19 ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ ⲙⲉϣⲁⲕ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲁⲡⲟⲗⲟⲅⲓⲍⲉ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ ⲙⲡⲉⲙⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲛϣⲁϫⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ⲉⲛⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲡⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲛⲁⲙⲉⲣⲁⲧⲉ ϩⲁ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲕⲱⲧ
Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
20 ⲕ̅ ϯⲣ ϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ϫⲉ ⲙⲏⲡⲟⲧⲉ ⲧⲁⲉⲓ ϣⲁⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲧⲁϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲉⲛϯⲟⲩⲁϣⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛⲟⲩⲁϣⲧ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲙⲏⲡⲟⲧⲉ ϩⲉⲛϯⲧⲱⲛ ⲛⲉ ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲕⲱϩ ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛϭⲱⲛⲧ ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛϫⲟⲕϫⲕ ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲕⲁⲧⲁⲗⲁⲗⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲕⲁⲥⲕⲥ ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛϫⲓⲥⲉ ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛϣⲧⲟⲣⲧⲣ
For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
21 ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ ⲙⲏⲡⲟⲧⲉ ⲟⲛ ⲧⲁⲉⲓ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲑⲃⲃⲓⲟⲓ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ⲧⲁⲣϩⲏⲃⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲉⲁⲩⲣⲛⲟⲃⲉ ϫⲓⲛ ⲛϣⲟⲣⲡ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲡⲟⲩⲙⲉⲧⲁⲛⲟⲓ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲛ ⲧⲁⲕⲁⲑⲁⲣⲥⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲡⲟⲣⲛⲉⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲥⲱⲱϥ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲁⲁϥ
I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.
