< Προς Κορινθιους Β΄ 12 >
1 καυχασθαι δη ου συμφερει μοι ελευσομαι γαρ εισ οπτασιασ και αποκαλυψεισ κυριου
To be boasting, is needful, —it is not, indeed, profitable, yet will I come to visions and revelations of [the] Lord: —
2 οιδα ανθρωπον εν χριστω προ ετων δεκατεσσαρων ειτε εν σωματι ουκ οιδα ειτε εκτοσ του σωματοσ ουκ οιδα ο θεοσ οιδεν αρπαγεντα τον τοιουτον εωσ τριτου ουρανου
I know a man in Christ, who, fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not, God, knoweth, such a one as this, caught away, as far as the third heaven;
3 και οιδα τον τοιουτον ανθρωπον ειτε εν σωματι ειτε εκτοσ του σωματοσ ουκ οιδα ο θεοσ οιδεν
And I know such a man as this, whether in the body or apart from the body, [I know not], —God, knoweth,
4 οτι ηρπαγη εισ τον παραδεισον και ηκουσεν αρρητα ρηματα α ουκ εξον ανθρωπω λαλησαι
How that he was caught away into paradise, and heard unspeakable things, which it is not allowable for a man to utter:
5 υπερ του τοιουτου καυχησομαι υπερ δε εμαυτου ου καυχησομαι ει μη εν ταισ ασθενειαισ μου
On behalf of such a one as this, will I boast, but, on behalf of myself, will I not boast, save in my weaknesses; —
6 εαν γαρ θελησω καυχησασθαι ουκ εσομαι αφρων αληθειαν γαρ ερω φειδομαι δε μη τισ εισ εμε λογισηται υπερ ο βλεπει με η ακουει τι εξ εμου
Although in fact, if I should wish to boast, I shall not be foolish, for, the truth, would I speak; but I forbear, lest anyone, unto me, should reckon above what he beholdeth me [to be], or heareth from me, —even by the exceeding greatness of the revelations.
7 και τη υπερβολη των αποκαλυψεων ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι εδοθη μοι σκολοψ τη σαρκι αγγελοσ σαταν ινα με κολαφιζη ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι
Wherefore, lest I should be unduly lifted up, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, that he might buffet me, —lest I should be unduly lifted up.
8 υπερ τουτου τρισ τον κυριον παρεκαλεσα ινα αποστη απ εμου
In this behalf, thrice, besought I, the Lord, that it might depart from me;
9 και ειρηκεν μοι αρκει σοι η χαρισ μου η γαρ δυναμισ μου εν ασθενεια τελειουται ηδιστα ουν μαλλον καυχησομαι εν ταισ ασθενειαισ μου ινα επισκηνωση επ εμε η δυναμισ του χριστου
And at once he said unto me—Sufficient for thee, is my favour, for, my power, in weakness, is made complete. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may spread a tent over me.
10 διο ευδοκω εν ασθενειαισ εν υβρεσιν εν αναγκαισ εν διωγμοισ εν στενοχωριαισ υπερ χριστου οταν γαρ ασθενω τοτε δυνατοσ ειμι
Wherefore, I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, and straits, in behalf of Christ; for, as soon as I am weak, then, am powerful.
11 γεγονα αφρων καυχωμενοσ υμεισ με ηναγκασατε εγω γαρ ωφειλον υφ υμων συνιστασθαι ουδεν γαρ υστερησα των υπερ λιαν αποστολων ει και ουδεν ειμι
I have become foolish, —ye, compelled me: —I, in fact, ought, by you, to have been commended; for, not a whit, have I come behind the exceeding overmuch apostles, —even if I am nothing:
12 τα μεν σημεια του αποστολου κατειργασθη εν υμιν εν παση υπομονη εν σημειοισ και τερασιν και δυναμεσιν
The signs, indeed, of an apostle, were wrought out among you, in all endurance, —[both] in signs, and wonders, and mighty works:
13 τι γαρ εστιν ο ηττηθητε υπερ τασ λοιπασ εκκλησιασ ει μη οτι αυτοσ εγω ου κατεναρκησα υμων χαρισασθε μοι την αδικιαν ταυτην
For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, —save that, I myself, would not allow myself to be a burden unto you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 ιδου τριτον ετοιμωσ εχω ελθειν προσ υμασ και ου καταναρκησω υμων ου γαρ ζητω τα υμων αλλα υμασ ου γαρ οφειλει τα τεκνα τοισ γονευσιν θησαυριζειν αλλ οι γονεισ τοισ τεκνοισ
Lo! this third time, I am holding myself, in readiness, to come unto you, and I will not allow myself to be a burden; for I seek not yours, but you; —for, the children, ought not to lay up, for the parents, but the parents for the children; —
15 εγω δε ηδιστα δαπανησω και εκδαπανηθησομαι υπερ των ψυχων υμων ει και περισσοτερωσ υμασ αγαπων ηττον αγαπωμαι
And, I, most gladly, will spend, and be fully spent, for your souls: —If I, exceedingly, love you, am I, the less, loved?
16 εστω δε εγω ου κατεβαρησα υμασ αλλ υπαρχων πανουργοσ δολω υμασ ελαβον
But let it be!—I, myself, did not burden you, —Notwithstanding, being crafty, with guile, I caught you?
17 μη τινα ων απεσταλκα προσ υμασ δι αυτου επλεονεκτησα υμασ
Was there, anyone of those whom I have sent unto you, through whom I have overreached you?
18 παρεκαλεσα τιτον και συναπεστειλα τον αδελφον μητι επλεονεκτησεν υμασ τιτοσ ου τω αυτω πνευματι περιεπατησαμεν ου τοισ αυτοισ ιχνεσιν
I exhorted Titus, and sent with him the brother, —Did, Titus, overreach you? Was it not, in the same spirit, we walked? Was it not, in the same steps?
19 παλιν δοκειτε οτι υμιν απολογουμεθα κατενωπιον του θεου εν χριστω λαλουμεν τα δε παντα αγαπητοι υπερ τησ υμων οικοδομησ
All this time, think ye, that, unto you, we are making a defence? Before God in Christ, we speak; —but all these things, beloved, for your upbuilding.
20 φοβουμαι γαρ μηπωσ ελθων ουχ οιουσ θελω ευρω υμασ καγω ευρεθω υμιν οιον ου θελετε μηπωσ ερεισ ζηλοι θυμοι εριθειαι καταλαλιαι ψιθυρισμοι φυσιωσεισ ακαταστασιαι
For I fear—lest, by any means, when I come, not such as I wish, should I find you, and, I, should be found by you, such as ye do not wish; —lest, by any means, [I should find] strife, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, factions, railings, whisperings, puffed up pretensions, confusions; —
21 μη παλιν ελθοντα με ταπεινωσει ο θεοσ μου προσ υμασ και πενθησω πολλουσ των προημαρτηκοτων και μη μετανοησαντων επι τη ακαθαρσια και πορνεια και ασελγεια η επραξαν
Lest, when I again come, my God should humble me in regard to you, —and I should grieve over many who had before sinned, and not repented of the impurity, and fornication, and wantonness which they had committed.