12:1 Si gloriari oportet (non expedit quidem), veniam autem ad visiones et revelationes Domini.
12:1 If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed) but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
12:2 Scio hominem in Christo ante annos quatuordecim, sive in corpore nescio, sive extra corpus nescio, Deus scit, raptum hujusmodi usque ad tertium cælum.
12:2 I know a man in Christ: above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth), such a one caught up to the third heaven.
12:3 Et scio hujusmodi hominem sive in corpore, sive extra corpus nescio, Deus scit :
12:3 And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth):
12:4 quoniam raptus est in paradisum : et audivit arcana verba, quæ non licet homini loqui.
12:4 That he was caught up into paradise and heard secret words which it is not granted to man to utter.
12:5 Pro hujusmodi gloriabor : pro me autem nihil gloriabor nisi in infirmitatibus meis.
12:5 For such an one I will glory: but for myself I will glory nothing but in my infirmities.
12:6 Nam etsi voluero gloriari, non ero insipiens : veritatem enim dicam : parco autem, ne quis me existimet supra id quod videt in me, aut aliquid audit ex me.
12:6 For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish: for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me.
12:7 Et ne magnitudo revelationum extollat me, datus est mihi stimulus carnis meæ angelus Satanæ, qui me colaphizet.
12:7 And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.
12:8 Propter quod ter Dominum rogavi ut discederet a me :
12:8 For which thing, thrice I besought the Lord that it might depart from me.
12:9 et dixit mihi : Sufficit tibi gratia mea : nam virtus in infirmitate perficitur. Libenter igitur gloriabor in infirmitatibus meis, ut inhabitet in me virtus Christi.
12:9 And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
12:10 Propter quod placeo mihi in infirmitatibus meis, in contumeliis, in necessitatibus, in persecutionibus, in angustiis pro Christo : cum enim infirmor, tunc potens sum.
12:10 For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful.
12:11 Factus sum insipiens, vos me coëgistis. Ego enim a vobis debui commendari : nihil enim minus fui ab iis, qui sunt supra modum Apostoli : tametsi nihil sum :
12:11 I am become foolish. You have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you. For I have no way come short of them that are above measure apostles, although I be nothing.
12:12 signa tamen apostolatus mei facta sunt super vos in omni patientia, in signis, et prodigiis, et virtutibus.
12:12 Yet the signs of my apostleship have been wrought on you, in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
12:13 Quid est enim, quod minus habuistis præ ceteris ecclesiis, nisi quod ego ipse non gravavi vos ? donate mihi hanc injuriam.
12:13 For what is there that you have had less than the other churches but that I myself was not burthensome to you? Pardon me this injury.
12:14 Ecce tertio hoc paratus sum venire ad vos : et non ero gravis vobis. Non enim quæro quæ vestra sunt, sed vos. Nec enim debent filii parentibus thesaurizare, sed parentes filiis.
12:14 Behold now the third time I am ready to come to you and I will not be burthensome unto you. For I seek not the things that are yours, but you. For neither ought the children to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
12:15 Ego autem libentissime impendam, et super impendar ipse pro animabus vestris : licet plus vos diligens, minus diligar.
12:15 But I most gladly will spend and be spent myself for your souls: although loving you more, I be loved less.
12:16 Sed esto : ego vos non gravavi : sed cum essem astutus, dolo vos cepi.
12:16 But be it so: I did not burthen you: but being crafty, I caught you by guile.
12:17 Numquid per aliquem eorum, quod misi ad vos, circumveni vos ?
12:17 Did I overreach you by any of them whom I sent to you?
12:18 Rogavi Titum, et misi cum illo fratrem. Numquid Titus vos circumvenit ? nonne eodem spiritu ambulavimus ? nonne iisdem vestigiis ?
12:18 I desired Titus: and I sent with him a brother. Did Titus overreach you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? Did we not in the same steps?
12:19 Olim putatis quod excusemus nos apud vos ? coram Deo in Christo loquimur : omnia autem, carissimi, propter ædificationem vestram.
12:19 Of old, think you that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ: but all things, my dearly beloved, for your edification.
12:20 Timeo enim ne forte cum venero, non quales volo, inveniam vos : et ego inveniar a vobis, qualem non vultis : ne forte contentiones, æmulationes, animositates, dissensiones, detractiones, susurrationes, inflationes, seditiones sint inter vos :
12:20 For I fear lest perhaps, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you such as you would not. Lest perhaps contentions, envyings, animosities, dissensions, detractions, whisperings, swellings, seditions, be among you.
12:21 ne iterum cum venero, humiliet me Deus apud vos, et lugeam multos ex iis qui ante peccaverunt, et non egerunt pœnitentiam super immunditia, et fornicatione, et impudicitia, quam gesserunt.
12:21 Lest again, when I come, God humble me among you: and I mourn many of them that sinned before and have not done penance for the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness that they have committed.