< 2 Corinthians 12 >
1 As it is necessary for me to take glory to myself, though it is not a good thing, I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
夸口固然无益,却也是必要的。现在我要说说主的异象和启示。
2 I have knowledge of a man in Christ, fourteen years back (if he was in the body, or out of the body, I am not able to say, but God only), who was taken up to the third heaven.
我认识一个在基督里的人,他十四年前被提升到第三重天上去。(是带着身体被提的呢?我不知道,是离开了身体呢?我也不知道,只有上帝知道。)
3 And I have knowledge of such a man (if he was in the body, or out of the body, I am not able to say, but God only),
我认识这个人,(是带着身体被提升,还是脱离身体提升,我都不知道,只有上帝知道。)
4 How he was taken up into Paradise, and words came to his ears which may not be said, and which man is not able to say.
他被提升到乐园里去,听见了难以言喻的话,那是人不可以说的。
5 On account of such a one I will have glory: for myself I will take no glory, but only in my feeble body.
为了这个人,我要夸口,但为了我自己,除了我的软弱以外,我没有可夸的。
6 For if I had a desire to take credit to myself, it would not be foolish, for I would be saying what is true: but I will not, for fear that I might seem to any man more than he sees me to be, or has word from me that I am.
即使我想夸口,也不算愚妄,因为我要说的是真话。但我闭口不提,免得有人把我看得太高,超过他在我身上的所见所闻。
7 And because the revelations were so very great, in order that I might not be overmuch lifted up, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, one sent from Satan to give me pain.
又因为我所得的启示太大,恐怕会高抬自己,所以就有一根刺加在我的身上,让撒旦的差役来攻击我,免得我高抬自己。
8 And about this thing I made request to the Lord three times that it might be taken away from me.
为了这事,我曾经三次求主,让这根刺离开我。
9 And he said to me, My grace is enough for you, for my power is made complete in what is feeble. Most gladly, then, will I take pride in my feeble body, so that the power of Christ may be on me.
他却对我说:“我的恩典够你用,因为我的能力在人的软弱面前会显得完整。”所以,我更喜欢夸自己的软弱,好让基督的能力临到我的身上。
10 So I take pleasure in being feeble, in unkind words, in needs, in cruel attacks, in troubles, on account of Christ: for when I am feeble, then am I strong.
因此,我因为基督的缘故,就以软弱、凌辱、艰难、迫害、困苦为欢喜,因为我什么时候软弱,就在什么时候刚强。
11 I have been forced by you to become foolish, though it was right for my praise to have come from you: for in no way was I less than the chief of the Apostles, though I am nothing.
我成了愚妄的人,是你们逼的。其实你们应该称赞我,因为我虽然算不得什么,却没有一点比不上那些“超级使徒”。
12 Truly the signs of an Apostle were done among you in quiet strength, with wonders and acts of power.
我在你们中间,以各种忍耐,用神迹、奇事和大能,作为使徒的凭据。
13 For what is there in which you were made less than the other churches, but in the one thing that I was not a trouble to you? Let me have forgiveness for this wrong.
除了我自己没有成为你们的重担以外,你们还有什么比不上别的教会呢?这一点委屈,请原谅我吧!
14 This is now the third time that I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a trouble to you: my desire is for you, not for your property: for it is not the children's business to make store for their fathers, but the fathers for the children.
好了,我打算第三次到你们那里去,这一次也不会成为你们的重担,因为我所要的不是你们的东西,而是你们自己。儿女不需要为父母积财,父母却应该为儿女积财。
15 And I will gladly give all I have for your souls. If I have the more love for you, am I to be loved the less?
至于我,我甘心乐意为你们的灵魂付上一切,鞠躬尽瘁。难道我越爱你们,就越得不到你们的爱吗?
16 But let it be so, that I was not a trouble to you myself; but (someone may say) being false, I took you with deceit.
好吧,即便如此,我也不是你的负担!也许我是个狡猾的人,会用诡计来陷害你!
17 Did I make a profit out of you by any of those whom I sent to you?
我派到你们那里去的人,我借着谁占过你们的便宜?
18 I gave orders to Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus make any profit out of you? were we not guided by the same Spirit, in the same ways?
我劝提多到你们那里去,又派了那位兄弟一同去。提多占过你们的便宜吗?我们行事,不是同一个心灵吗?不是同样的步伐吗?
19 It may seem to you that all this time we have been attempting to put ourselves in the right; but we are saying these things before God in Christ. For all things, dear brothers, are for your profit.
你们一直以为我们是在向你们申辩吗?我们与基督同在,在上帝面前说话。亲爱的你们,一切事都是为了成就你们。
20 For I have a fear that, when I come, you may not be answering to my desire, and that I may not be answering to yours; that there may be fighting, hate, angry feeling, divisions, evil talk about others, secrets, thoughts of pride, outbursts against authority;
我怕我来的时候,看到你们不如我的预期,你们见我也不如你们的预期。我怕有纷争、嫉妒、恼怒、自私、毁谤、谗言、狂傲、混乱的事。
21 And that when I come again, my God may put me to shame among you, and I may have grief for those who have done wrong before and have had no regret for their unclean ways, and for the evil desires of the flesh to which they have given way.
怕我再来的时候,我的上帝让我在你们面前感到羞愧。并且我要为许多从前犯罪的人哀痛,因为他们行了污秽、奸淫、邪荡的事,却不肯悔改。