ⲚⲒⲔⲞⲢⲒⲚⲐⲒⲞⲤ Ⲃ ̅ 11
If only you would bear with me for a bit in my foolishness! Yes, do bear with me!
2 ⲃ̅ ϯⲕⲱϩ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲕⲱϩ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ. ⲁⲓ̈ⲥⲃ̅ⲧⲱⲧ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲡⲁⲣϩⲓⲥⲧⲁ ⲙ̅ⲙⲱⲧⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ ⲉⲥⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ. ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅.
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
3 ⲅ̅ ϯⲣ̅ϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲇⲉ ϫⲉ ⲙⲏⲡⲟⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲡϩⲟϥ ⲉⲝⲁⲡⲁⲧⲁ ⲛ̅ⲉⲩϩⲁ ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲉϥⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩⲣⲅⲓⲁ ⲛ̅ⲥⲉⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲛⲉⲧⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧϩⲁⲡⲗⲟⲩⲥ ⲙⲛ̅ⲡⲧⲃ̅ⲃⲟ ⲉⲧϫⲓ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅.
But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds will be led astray from simple devotion to Christ.
4 ⲇ̅ ⲉϣϫⲉⲡⲉⲧⲛⲏⲩ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲁⲧⲁϣⲉⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ⲕⲉⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲉⲙⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϣⲉⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ. ⲏ̅ ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲁϫⲓⲕⲉⲡ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ ⲉⲙⲡⲉⲧⲛ̅ϫⲓⲧϥ̅ ⲏ̅ ⲕⲉⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲙⲡⲉⲧⲛ̅ϣⲟⲡϥ̅ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ̅. ⲉⲓ̈ⲉ ⲕⲁⲗⲱⲥ ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲁⲛⲉⲭⲉ.
For if someone comes to you and preaches a different message about Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you bear with it well enough.
For I consider myself to be in no way inferior to these “super-apostles.”
6 ⲋ̅ ⲉϣϫⲉⲁⲛⲅ̅ⲟⲩϩⲓⲇⲓⲱⲧⲏⲥ ⲇⲉ ϩⲙ̅ⲡϣⲁϫⲉ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁⲛⲟⲩⲟⲛϩⲛ̅ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ̅ ϩⲛ̅ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ.
I may be untrained in speech, but I do not lack knowledge; indeed, in every way we have been made known to you in everything.
7 ⲍ̅ ⲙⲏ ⲟⲩⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓ̈ⲁⲁϥ ⲉⲁⲓ̈ⲑⲃ̅ⲃⲓⲟⲓ̈ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲱⲧⲛ̅ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲉϫⲓⲥⲉ. ϫⲉ ⲁⲓ̈ⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲍⲉ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ϫⲓⲛϫⲏ.
Did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
I “robbed” other churches by receiving support from them in order to serve you!
9 ⲑ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲓϣⲱⲱⲧ ⲉⲉⲓϩⲁⲧⲛ̅ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲉϩϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲉⲗⲁⲁⲩ. ⲡⲁϣⲱⲱⲧ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲁⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ϫⲟⲕϥ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲙⲁⲕⲉⲇⲟⲛⲓⲁ. ⲁⲩⲱ ϩⲛ̅ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁⲓ̈ϩⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲙ̅ϩⲣⲟϣ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ̅. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲛ ϯⲛⲁϩⲁⲣⲉϩ.
When I was with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.
As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
12 ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ ⲡⲉϯⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ϯⲛⲁⲁⲁϥ ⲟⲛ. ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉϭⲱϫⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲫⲟⲣⲙⲏ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲉϣⲁⲫⲟⲣⲙⲏ. ϫⲉ ⲉⲩⲉϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲟⲩϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲛϩⲉ ϩⲱⲱⲛ.
But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may deny any opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about.
13 ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ ϩⲉⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲛⲟⲩϫ ⲛⲉ. ϩⲉⲛⲉⲣⲅⲁⲧⲏⲥ ⲛ̅ⲕⲣⲟϥ ⲛⲉ. ⲉⲩϫⲓϩⲣⲃ̅ ϩⲱⲥ ⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅.
For such men are false apostles and deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲁⲛ ϭⲉ ⲡⲉ. ⲉϣϫⲉⲛⲉϥⲕⲉⲇⲓⲁⲕⲟⲛⲟⲥ ϫⲓϩⲣⲃ̅ ϩⲱⲥ ⲇⲓⲁⲕⲟⲛⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲧⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥⲩⲛⲏ. ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲩϩⲁⲏ ⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲛⲉⲩϩⲃⲏⲩⲉ.
Therefore it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.
16 ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ ϯⲛⲁϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲟⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲧⲣⲉⲟⲩⲁ ⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ̈ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲅ̅ⲟⲩⲁⲑⲏⲧ. ⲉϣϫⲉⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲛ ⲕⲁⲛ ϣⲟⲡⲧ̅ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ̅ ϩⲱⲥ ⲁⲑⲏⲧ. ϫⲉⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϣⲏⲙ.
I repeat: Let no one consider me to be a fool. But if you do, receive me just as you would a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
What I say in this confidence of boasting, I am not saying in accordance with the Lord, but as a fool.
Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.
For you gladly bear with fools since you are so wise!
20 ⲕ̅ ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲁⲛⲉⲭⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲝⲁⲡⲁⲧⲁ ⲙ̅ⲙⲱⲧⲛ̅. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲕ̅ⲕⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲱⲧⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲟⲩⲱⲙ. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧϫⲓ. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧϫⲓⲥⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧϩⲓⲟⲩⲉ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲉⲧⲛ̅ϩⲟ.
You bear with it if anyone enslaves you, devours you, takes advantage of you, exalts himself, or hits you in the face.
21 ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ ⲉⲓ̈ϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲟⲩⲥⲱϣ. ϩⲱⲥ ϩⲟⲧⲓ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲁⲛϭⲃ̅ⲃⲉ. ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉⲟⲩⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲁⲧⲟⲗⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲑⲏⲧ ⲉⲉⲓϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϯⲛⲁⲧⲟⲗⲙⲁ ϩⲱ.
To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking like a fool—I also dare to boast about.
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the offspring of Abraham? So am I.
23 ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ ϩⲉⲛⲇⲓⲁⲕⲟⲛⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ⲛⲉ. ⲉⲉⲓϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲑⲏⲧ ⲁⲛⲅ̅ⲟⲩⲁ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ. ϩⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ. ϩⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛϣⲧⲉⲕⲱⲟⲩ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ. ϩⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛⲥⲏϣⲉ ⲉⲛⲁϣⲱⲟⲩ. ϩⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛⲙⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲡ.
Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so, with far more labors, with beatings beyond measure, with far more imprisonments, and often facing death.
Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
25 ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ ⲁⲩϩⲓⲟⲩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ϭⲉⲣⲟⲟⲃ ⲛ̅ϣⲙ̅ⲧⲥⲱⲱⲡ. ⲁⲩϩⲓⲱⲛⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ̈ ⲛⲟⲩⲥⲟⲡ. ⲁⲡϫⲟⲓ̈ ⲃⲱⲕ ϩⲁⲣⲟⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ϣⲙ̅ⲧⲥⲱⲱⲡ. ⲁⲓ̈ⲣ̅ⲟⲩϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲩϣⲏ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛ.
Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I spent in the open sea.
26 ⲕ̅ⲋ̅ ϩⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛϩⲓⲏ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲛ̅ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲡ. ϩⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲕⲓⲛⲇⲩⲛⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲉⲓⲉⲣⲱⲟⲩ. ϩⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲕⲓⲛⲇⲩⲛⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲟⲛⲉ· ϩⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲕⲓⲛⲇⲩⲛⲟⲥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲅⲉⲛⲟⲥ. ϩⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲕⲓⲛⲇⲩⲛⲟⲥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲛ̅ϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ. ϩⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲕⲓⲛⲇⲩⲛⲟⲥ ⲛⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ. ϩⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲕⲓⲛⲇⲩⲛⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲁⲉⲓⲉ. ϩⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲕⲓⲛⲇⲩⲛⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ. ϩⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲕⲓⲛⲇⲩⲛⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛⲟⲩϫ.
I have often been on journeys, exposed to dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers.
27 ⲕ̅ⲍ̅ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩϩⲓⲥⲉ. ⲙⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲙ̅ⲕⲁϩ. ϩⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛⲟⲩϣⲏ ⲛ̅ⲣⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲛ̅ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲡ. ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩϩⲕⲟ ⲙⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲃⲉ. ϩⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛⲛⲏⲥⲧⲓⲁ ⲉⲛⲁϣⲱⲟⲩ. ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩϫⲁϥ ⲙⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲕⲱⲕⲁϩⲏⲩ.
I have endured labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, and hunger and thirst. I have often gone without food and have been cold due to a lack of sufficient clothing.
Apart from these external things, there is my daily burden: my concern for all the churches.
Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show my weakness.
The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. (aiōn g165)
In Damascus the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes, wanting to arrest me,
but I was let down in a basket through a window in the city wall and escaped from his hands.
