2 Corinthians 13

1 [In the Scriptures it is stated that when one person] accuses [another of wrongdoing, you must not believe his] accusation [right away]. [First, you must listen to at least] two or three people who actually saw what happened. [So keep in mind that] this will be the third time that I will visit you!

این سومین باری است که به دیدار شما می‌آیم. (همان‌طور که در کتب مقدّس نوشته شده: «به گواهی دو یا سه شاهد، هر سخنی ثابت می‌شود.»)

2 When I visited you the second time, I warned you [that I was going to punish all the wrongdoers among you]. [And now] I am [warning you] again while I am still away [from you]. When I visit you this third time, I will punish those who were sinning [at the time when I visited you] before [and who are still sinning], and I will [punish] the others [who have been sinning since then, if they have not stopped their sinful behavior].

آخرین باری که نزد شما بودم، به آنانی که مرتکب گناه می‌شدند، اخطار کردم. اکنون به آنان و نیز به سایرین، باز هشدار می‌دهم که این بار از خطای کسی چشم‌پوشی نخواهم کرد،

3 Because you have demanded that I prove to you that Christ is speaking [to you when] I [speak to you, I will show you that I speak to you as his apostle. Christ] does not approve of your sinful behavior. On the contrary, he will powerfully [discipline you].

و دلایل کافی نیز ارائه خواهم داد تا ثابت کنم که مسیح به‌وسیلهٔ من سخن می‌گوید. مسیح در روابط و برخوردش با شما ضعیف نیست بلکه قدرتی است عظیم در وجود شما.

4 [It is true that] Christ [seemed to be] weak when he was crucified {when [people] killed him by nailing him to the cross}. But [it is also true that] he [now] lives because God [worked] powerfully [to bring him back to life. Similarly], as I [serve] God, I also am a weak human [being as Christ was]. But I also [have a close relationship with] Christ [who is now alive again]. And with his [authority] I will use God’s power [to discipline] you.

اگرچه بدن ضعیف و انسانی او بر روی صلیب مرد، اما اکنون به‌وسیلهٔ قدرت عظیم خدا او زنده است. ما نیز با اینکه در جسم خود ضعیف هستیم، اما در او زنده و قوی می‌باشیم و در روابط خود با شما، تمام قدرت خدا را در اختیار داریم.

5 Each of you should ask yourself: “[Do I] believe [God’s message about Christ?]” Each of you should [examine yourselves to] make sure that you truly do [believe] in Christ [and so truly belong to him], and that [his Spirit lives] in you [(pl)]. When you examine yourselves [in that way], I am sure that you will [RHQ] say [to me], “Yes, of course we [belong to] Christ.”

خود را امتحان کنید تا ببینید آیا در ایمان هستید یا نه. ایمان خود را بسنجید. آیا از حضور و قدرت عیسی مسیح در وجود خود آگاهید؛ اگر چنین نیست در این امتحان مردود هستید.

6 I am [also] certain that you will know that I [belong to Christ, just like you do].

امیدوارم بپذیرید که من از این امتحان ایمان، سربلند بیرون آمده‌ام و براستی از آن مسیح هستم.

7 But [because I do not want to have to punish you], I am praying to God that he will help you not to do anything evil [that would cause me to have to punish you. I pray this], not in order that when people [who say that I am not your apostle] realize [that my ministry among you has been very successful, they will have to agree] that I do have authority from Christ. Instead, [I pray this because I want] you to do what is right, even though that might mean that [my opponents would think] that I do not have authority from Christ, [since I would not have an opportunity to show my authority to discipline you].

حال، از خدا درخواست می‌کنیم که شما عملی نادرست انجام ندهید، نه به این دلیل که مردم ببینند که از آزمون موفق بیرون آمده‌ایم، بلکه دعا می‌کنیم که شما عمل درست را انجام دهید، حتی اگر به نظر برسد که ما موفق نشده‌ایم.

8 [If you do what is right, I will not discipline you], [because it would] not [be right for me to do that if you are conducting your lives the way you should, like] God’s true [message says that you should. What God asks me to do is to help people to know and obey his] true [message].

زیرا نمی‌توانیم کاری برخلاف راستی انجام دهیم، بلکه باید همواره برای راستی بایستیم.

9 I am happy [whenever] you are strongly [trusting and obeying Christ, and because of that I do not have to use my authority to discipline you. It does not matter to me if that makes people think that I do not have any authority]. Truly, what I am praying for is that [God] will [help] you to completely change your conduct.

راضی هستیم ضعیف بمانیم اما شما قوی باشید. بزرگترین آرزو و دعای ما این است که شما در ایمانِ مسیحی خود به حد کمال برسید.

10 That is why I am writing these things while I am still away from you. [What I want is that] when I visit you, [you will already be conducting your lives as God wants you to], and so I will not have to [discipline you] severely, as the [Lord Jesus Christ gave me] the authority to do. The authority that I have from the Lord is to help you to become [spiritually] mature believers, not to cause you to stop [trusting in him].

این مطالب را به این امید می‌نویسم که وقتی نزدتان آمدم، نیازی نباشد که شما را سرزنش و تنبیه نمایم. زیرا می‌خواهم از اقتداری که خداوند به من داده است، برای تقویت و بنا کردن شما استفاده کنم، نه برای ویران کردن شما.

11 Finally, my fellow believers, [I say to you], be joyful. Completely [change how you conduct your lives], and do what I have urged you [to do]. Be united in what you think [about the matters about which I have written to you]. Live peacefully [with each other. If you do those things], God, who [enables you to] love [each other] and be peaceful, will bless [MTY] you.

آخرین نکته‌ای که مایلم بنویسم، این است: شاد باشید. رشد کنید و بالغ شوید. همدیگر را تشویق کنید. در صلح و صفا زندگی کنید. خدا که سرچشمهٔ محبت و آرامش است، با شما باشد.

12 Greet each other affectionately as [fellow members] of God’s family [should].

با بوسه‌ای مقدّس به یکدیگر سلام بگویید.

13 All God’s people [here] send you greetings.

تمام ایمانداران اینجا به شما سلام می‌رسانند.

14 [I pray that] the Lord Jesus Christ will act kindly [toward] all of you, in ways that you do not deserve, that God will [show all of you how much he] loves you, and that the Holy Spirit [will cause you to have good] fellowship [with him and with each other].

فیض خداوند ما عیسی مسیح، محبت خدا و رفاقت روح‌القدس با همۀ شما باشد.