2 Ukorintiyawa 12

1 Ugbas utira ubigiri uge me sa in zini awunam ini, anyimo me daki ya bitam ire imum ba. Indi ri aje unu boo imum be sa ma ira ini amasaa nan nu uhurtu ahira Ugomo Asere.

[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].

2 In rusa uye sa ma biki tiwe ukirau in tini tinazi, aziki me uhana azezzere age be sa azi utaru usuro unikara nu Ugomo Asere, nyani maraa nyimo ani pum nini, nyani daki ma raa anyimo ani puum, mi in taam, Asere mani marusa.

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.

3 Ma kuri marusa unu ugino me, sa aziki me uhana uvenke, nyani ma raa anyimo ani puum nini, nyanini daki ma raa anyimo ani puum nu unu bu nini, mi in taam ina gino ina gino me, Asere ani arusa cass.

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].

4 Maa kuri ma gunna tire tize ti ge be sa unaa ubuka utini uzoni, gusi ti ge be sa unu buu daki ma bari uguna ma buki tini.

5 Mi indi tiri bigiri unugino me, inda tira bigiri bum in nice num ba ya cukuno uguna ana usiziki um uni.

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].

6 Inki ma nyari utira ubigiri, in da cukunom ubabana ba, idi cukuno kadura kani indi buki. Ma ceki tize me ani me, kati ma zikim in teki uzina sa in zi, nyani gusi tize tum me sa in boo.

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.

7 Kati mi uge me in vengizi bigiri barki ti mumum ti dangdang ti ge be sa abezim tini, abini me ani awuum ure ukoni, uge be sa wa cukunom bikana, una kadura ku na bibe biburi, bati in cukuno unu uvengizi ubigiri.

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.

8 Kani kataru ma tiri Ugomo Asere tari, unu guna ma kari imum ige me ani ce num.

Three times I prayed to the Lord about it, begging him to take this away from me.

9 Ma guna in mi ana, “Urunta um wa bari, barki usuro udira unu kara adike a'iri ubari ume.” Barki ani me indi kinki upoko uni ce unusiziki um me ini riba ige be sa iteki utuba barki nikara nu ugomo Asere ni cukuno nan me.

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].

10 Barki ani me, inzin ini riba iruum unu siziki me um me, in na re ugbete isso, nan nu zito nan nu guna uni puum nan imum iburi barki ugomo Asere, uganiya sa ma sizikum, uganiya me uni indi zin inikara.

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].

11 Maa wuzi udira uni ce, am she wani ya wunan mi, she wani izi uguna idi nonzon mi, barki daki masizi kum ana kadura kage be sa yeze we in naza, abanna me mi in zom in iri mum ini ba.

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.

12 Awuuzi katuma ku ira lau anyimo ashi me unu inko iriba nan tire ti mumum ta aye u'ira nan ti biyau.

[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.

13 Uya una uni ya siziki me ahira ati denge tu tarsa utize ti Ugomo Asere nyani, barki sa daki ma inki shi aje ba? Ucara abanga me sa ma wu shini natani muriba mushi me!

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]

14 Ayenne, in eze ahira ashi me u'aye utaru azo agi in niki iriba imnahira ashi me, she wani in nyara, azo ugunna agi ahana wani waziki nikara nu inta aka coo, akacoo wani wadi waziki nikara nu inta ahana.

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].

15 Mi abanna me, indi huu vat imum itari tum nan nu nuaa be sa ma kem a iriba irum barki icukuno ahuma. Inki ma kinki unyara ushi iriba im, ikuri i cukuno a kaska im u'inko iriba me.

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]

16 Aziki uguna ma inki shi aje naa, i da guna ma wuzi shi ueusa abanga, im be ma re nice nishi me ure unaa sas.

[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.

17 Ma ri shi ugbete isso usuro u'aye an de be sa ma tuburko shi nin?

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]

18 Maa tiri Titus tari unu guna ma haa, maa kuri in tuburko nigoo nan ure uhenu ukatuma, nani Titus ma ma rii shi ugbete isso? Nani izo me bibe biriri bi inde bigono bini bi tarsan in haru, mi nan meme? Nani azo unaa u'inde ugino uni ti tarsa?

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].

19 Shi ya basa agi haru ti ezen in nikara niru me ahira ashe ani? Daki ani me ani azi ba, amu henu mu Ugomo Asere ti boo tize me ni, haru anu Ugomo Asere wani wa zi, ahino barki ti barka shi ini, shi ande be sa ti nyara shi.

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).

20 In kunna biyau nani kati in e in kem shi gusi uzina be sa shi nin, shi cangi ikem mi inzi gusi uzina sa shi i nyara mi in cukuno, nani akem matara ni, nan malim, nan nu conzino me umuriba, nan nu nyara ace, nan nu ucira turunga, nan bibukum sassas, nan nu vengize ace nan nu zatu uticukum tihuma.

[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.

21 In kunna biyyau kati inki ma kuri ma aye, Asere am ma kaskam nikara num aje ashi me in kuri in kunna ukunna iriba ibiit barki uye anyimo ashi me sa wa cari abanga daati, wanno wa gaame uwito ace awe me, barki ugino ucara abanga me, nan utarsa ahana'e, nan timumum tizenze be sa waa wuzi tini.

[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.