2 Corinthians 12
1 [It seems that] I must go on boasting [about myself]. Although [I do] not [think that my telling you about] this will help [you to accept me as Christ’s representative to you], I [will say this anyway]. I will tell you about visions that the Lord [gave a certain man] and about things that he [supernaturally] revealed [to that man. I will tell you this because some of the people among you boast that it was in visions that they received the things that they teach].
ⲁ̅ⲉϣϫⲉ ϣϣⲉ ⲉϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲛⲥⲣⲛⲟϥⲣⲉ ⲙⲉⲛ ⲁⲛ ϯⲛⲏⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲉϩⲉⲛⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩϭⲱⲗⲡ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ
2 The man that I will tell you about is one [who believes] in Christ. Fourteen years ago he was taken {[Christ] took him} up into the third heaven, [the highest heaven, the place where God is]. I do not know whether he went there [in his physical body] or whether he was outside of his body [at that time and only his spirit went]. Only God really knows.
ⲃ̅ϯⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲛⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ϩⲁⲑⲏ ⲙⲙⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲉ ⲛⲣⲟⲙⲡⲉ ⲉⲓⲧⲉ ⲉϥϩⲙ ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛϯⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲓⲧⲉ ⲉϥⲙⲡⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛϯⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲁⲩⲧⲱⲣⲡ ⲙⲡⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲉⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ ϣⲁ ⲧⲙⲉϩϣⲟⲙⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲉ
3 But he was [suddenly] taken {[Christ suddenly] took him} up to [a place called] Paradise, [that wonderful place where God lives. I repeat that] I do not know whether his body [went there] or only his spirit. Only God knows [that. While he was there, God] told him some things that he does not allow [human beings] to tell [others about].
ⲅ̅ⲁⲩⲱ ϯⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲙⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ ⲉⲓⲧⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲉⲓⲧⲉ ⲡⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ
ⲇ̅ϫⲉ ⲁⲩⲧⲟⲣⲡϥ ⲉⲡⲡⲁⲣⲁⲇⲉⲓⲥⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲉϩⲉⲛϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲩϩⲏⲡ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲉⲛⲥⲧⲟ ⲁⲛ ⲉϫⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲣⲱⲙⲉ
5 I will proudly talk about that man. However, I will not be boasting [as] I say that I [am the one who saw and heard those wonderful things]. I will talk only about the things that [cause others to think of] me as a weak [human being like everyone else].
ⲉ̅ⲉⲓⲛⲁϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ϩⲁ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ ϩⲁⲣⲟⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲛⲁϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲉⲓⲙⲏⲧⲓ ϩⲛ ⲙⲙⲛⲧϭⲱⲃ
6 But even if I should choose to boast [to you about such wonderful things that happened to me], I would not be [speaking like] a fool, because I would be telling you the truth. But I will not [talk proudly about such things], because I do not want any of you to think highly of me [because of the things that have happened to me]. Instead, [I want you to decide what kind of person I am by the way you see] me [acting] and by what you hear me teach.
ⲋ̅ⲉⲓϣⲁⲛⲟⲩⲉϣ 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
7 In order that I might not become proud because of those many wonderful things [that Christ] revealed to me, [God permitted] Satan to send a messenger [to humble me] (OR, to [make me sick]). [What that messenger did to me was painful, like] [MET] a thorn pricking my body.
ⲍ̅ⲁⲩⲱ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲛⲛⲁϫⲓⲥⲉ ⲛϩⲏⲧ ϩⲛ ⲧⲙⲛⲧⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲁⲡⲟⲕⲁⲗⲩⲯⲓⲥ ⲁⲩϯ ⲛⲟⲩⲥⲟⲩⲣⲉ ⲉⲧⲁⲥⲁⲣⲝ ⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲙⲡⲥⲁⲧⲁⲛⲁⲥ ϫⲉ ⲉϥⲉϯⲕⲗⲯ ⲉϫⲱⲓ ϫⲉ ⲛⲛⲁϫⲓⲥⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ
8 Three times I prayed to the Lord about it, begging him to take this away from me.
ⲏ̅ⲁⲓⲥⲉⲡⲥ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲛϣⲙⲧⲥⲱⲱⲡ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ϫⲉ ⲉϥⲉⲥⲁϩⲱϥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ
9 But he said to me, “[No, I will not take this away from you. Instead], I will kindly help you, and that will be all that you need, because it is [when you are] weak that I [can] best [work] powerfully [to help you].” So, because of [what the Lord said to me], I will very gladly boast about [the things that make] me [seem] weak, so that [people may realize] that it is Christ who gives me power [to serve him].
ⲑ̅ⲁⲩⲱ 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
10 For that reason, [whenever I am] weak, or [when people] insult me, [or when I have to endure] hardships, or [when I am persecuted] {[people] cause me to suffer}, or [when I am in situations that] distress me, I am content because [I am serving] Christ. [I can say that] because at any time when I myself am weak, that is the [very] time when [Christ] powerfully [helps me].
ⲓ̅ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ϭⲉ ϯⲧⲏⲧ ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲙⲛⲧⲁⲧϭⲟⲙ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲥⲱϣ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲁⲛⲁⲅⲕⲏ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲇⲓⲱⲅⲙⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲗⲱϫϩ ϩⲁ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ϩⲟⲧⲁⲛ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲓϣⲁⲛⲣⲁⲧϭⲟⲙ ⲧⲟⲧⲉ ϣⲁⲓϭⲙϭⲟⲙ
11 It has been foolish for me [to talk about myself like this], but it is you who forced me to do it. Truly [if the Lord would not help me], I would be worthless, [as my opponents say that I am]. But none of the men whom you [wrongfully think] [IRO] are great apostles are greater in any way than I am. So it would have been right/proper for you to say good things about me.
ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ⲁⲓϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲁⲑⲏⲧ ⲛⲧⲱⲧⲛ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲁⲅⲕⲁⲍⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉϣϣⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩⲥⲩⲛϩⲓⲥⲧⲁ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ϩⲓⲧⲉ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ⲙⲡⲓϣⲱⲱⲧ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲡⲁⲣⲁ ⲛⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲅ ⲟⲩⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲟⲛ
12 [You should have done that, because] when I was with you [I] repeatedly did the things that showed you that [I am truly] an apostle, such as performing many [DOU] miracles.
ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ⲙⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲛⲧⲙⲛⲧⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲁⲓⲁⲁⲩ ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ϩⲛ ϩⲩⲡⲟⲙⲟⲛⲏ ⲛⲓⲙ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛϣⲡⲏⲣⲉ ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛϭⲟⲙ
13 And I have [certainly treated] you as well as [I treated] the other congregations [that I helped to start. Or do you think that] by not asking you [to pay me for my work], I was not treating you as well as I treated the other congregations? (It is foolish for you to [think that] [IRO] [it] was wrong for me not [to ask for pay from you for my work, and therefore I should ask] you to forgive me for that!/Do you [think that it] was wrong for me not [to ask for pay from you for my work, and therefore I should ask] you to forgive me for that?) [RHQ]
ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ⲟⲩ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛϣⲱⲱⲧ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲡⲁⲣⲁ ⲡⲕⲉⲥⲉⲉⲡⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲉⲓⲙⲏⲧⲓ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲙⲡⲓⲟⲩⲉϩϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲕⲱ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲉⲓϫⲓ ⲛϭⲟⲛⲥ
14 Now listen to me! It is time for me to come to you for a third [visit. When I come], I [still] will not insist that you [pay me for my work], because I do not want [any of] your [money] [EUP]! What I want is for you [MTY] [to love and appreciate me]. It is not [normally the duty of] children to save [money to provide for the needs of] their parents. Instead, it [is the duty of] parents to [provide] for their children [MET]. In the same way, [it is not your duty to provide for me. Instead, it is my duty to provide spiritual help for you because you are my spiritual children].
ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ⲡⲙⲉϩϣⲟⲙⲛⲧ 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
15 So, for my part, [as a good parent would do], I will be very happy to use everything that I have, and do everything that I possibly can, [in order to help you]. And because I love you very much, (I will be very disappointed if [you] do not love me a little bit, too./will [you] not love me a little bit, too?) [RHQ]
ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲡⲓⲑⲉ ϯϫⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲥⲉⲛⲁϫⲟⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲁ ⲛⲉⲧⲙⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲉϣϫⲉ ϯⲙⲉ ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲛ ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲙⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲛⲟⲩϣⲏⲙ
16 [You all] know that I did not depend on you [to provide for my needs]. However, [there are some who accuse me, saying that] [IRO] I was very clever and got money from you by tricking you.
ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ⲉⲥⲧⲱ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲙⲡⲓⲃⲁⲣⲉⲓ ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲛ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉⲓⲟ ⲙⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩⲣⲅⲟⲥ ⲁⲓϫⲓ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ⲛⲕⲣⲟϥ
17 But did I ever do that? No! I never [RHQ] asked any of the men whom I sent to you [to get money] from you [and bring it to me]
ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ⲙⲏ ⲁⲓϥⲉϭ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ϩⲓⲧⲛ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓⲧⲛⲛⲟⲟⲩⲥⲉ ϣⲁⲣⲱⲧⲛ
18 Titus went [and visited you because] I urged him to do so. I also sent the other believer, [whom you know], to go with Titus. [You know that] Titus did not [RHQ] trick [you in order to get money from you. And you certainly know that] he and I have always [RHQ] acted in exactly the same [honest] way [towards you].
ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲁⲓⲡⲁⲣⲁⲕⲁⲗⲉⲓ ⲛⲧⲓⲧⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲓⲧⲛⲛⲉⲩⲡⲥⲟⲛ ⲛⲙⲙⲁϥ ⲙⲏⲧⲓ ⲁⲧⲓⲧⲟⲥ ϥⲉϭ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ⲛⲧⲁⲛⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲁⲛ ϩⲙ ⲡⲓⲡⲛⲁ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ ϩⲛ ⲛⲓϩⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ
19 While [you have been reading this letter, if] you have been thinking that I have [just] been [saying these things to] defend myself [against those who accuse me, you are wrong]. I have been saying [these things honestly, knowing] that God is listening [to me. I also speak as one who has a close relationship] with Christ. Everything that I do and [everything that I say is] to [help you] whom I love (to grow [spiritually/] to become [spiritually] mature).
ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ⲙⲉϣⲁⲕ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲁⲡⲟⲗⲟⲅⲓⲍⲉ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ ⲙⲡⲉⲙⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲛϣⲁϫⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ⲉⲛⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲡⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲛⲁⲙⲉⲣⲁⲧⲉ ϩⲁ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲕⲱⲧ
20 [I have written this way to you] because I worry that when I come [to visit you], I will see that [some of] you are [not conducting your lives the way] that I want you [to]. If that is so, [when I get there] you will see that I will have [to act] in a [very severe way toward you, and I am sure] that you do not want that. Specifically, I am afraid that [some of you] may be quarreling, or that you are being jealous [of each other], or that you quickly get very angry [with them], or that you are acting selfishly, or that [some of] you are saying bad things about others, or that you are (spreading false rumors/saying false things) about each other, or that you are acting proudly, or that you are [doing things] in a disorderly manner.
ⲕ̅ϯⲣ 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
21 [I] ([feel anxious/am concerned]) [about you. I worry that] when I visit you again, God, the one whom I [serve], will make me feel ashamed of you [when I see that] you [still are not conducting your lives as believers should]. Then I will feel very sad about [some of] you who were sinning previously and have not stopped your sinful behavior. [Some of you] may still have impure [thoughts. Some of you] may be having sexual intercourse with those to whom you are not married. [And some of you] may be doing other shameful things.
ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ⲙⲏⲡⲟⲧⲉ ⲟⲛ ⲧⲁⲉⲓ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲑⲃⲃⲓⲟⲓ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ⲧⲁⲣϩⲏⲃⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲉⲁⲩⲣⲛⲟⲃⲉ ϫⲓⲛ ⲛϣⲟⲣⲡ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲡⲟⲩⲙⲉⲧⲁⲛⲟⲓ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲛ ⲧⲁⲕⲁⲑⲁⲣⲥⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲡⲟⲣⲛⲉⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲥⲱⲱϥ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲁⲁϥ
