1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. 14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: 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 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? 18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? 19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. 20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

1 Tuleb kiidelda, ehk mul sellest küll pole kasu. Aga nüüd ma siirdun nägemustesse ja Issanda ilmutustesse.

2 Ma tunnen inimest Kristuses, keda neljateistkümne aasta eest t

3 Ja ma tean, et sama inimene — kas ta oli ihus v

4 t

5 Sellestsamast mehest ma tahangi kiidelda; aga iseenesest ma ei kiitle muuga kui oma n

6 Sest kui ma tahaksingi kiidelda, ei oleks ma rumal, sest ma räägiksin t

7 ka väga suurte ilmutuste t

8 Sellesama pärast olen ma kolm korda Issandat palunud, et see minust lahkuks.

9 Aga Ta ütles mulle: „Sulle saab küllalt Minu armust; sest vägi saab n

10 Sellepärast olen meeleldi n

11 Ma olen läinud rumalaks; teie olete mind selleks sundinud. Sest mina oleksin pidanud saama kiitust teilt; sest ma pole sugugi vähem kui ülisuured Apostlid, ehk ma küll ei ole midagi.

12 Apostli tunnusteod on ju teie seas täide saadetud k

13 Sest mille poolest teie olete olnud halvemad kui teised kogudused, kui vaid selle poolest, et mina ise ei ole olnud teile koormaks? Andke mulle see süü andeks!

14 Vaata, ma olen nüüd kolmandat korda valmis tulema teie juurde ega tule teile koormaks; sest mina ei otsi teie oma, vaid teid endid; sest lapsed pole kohustatud koguma varandust vanemaile, vaid vanemad lastele.

15 Aga ma teen meeleldi kulu ja kulutan iseennast teie hingede eest, kuigi mind, kes ma teid väga armastan, pisut armastatakse.

16 Aga olgu peale, mina ei ole teid koormanud, kuid „ma olin kelm ja v

17 Kas ma kellegi kaudu neist, keda ma läkitasin teie juurde, olen teid koorinud?

18 Mina

19 Teie m

20 Sest ma kardan, et kui ma tulen, ma ei leia teid niisugustena nagu tahan, ja et teie leiate mind seesugusena, nagu te ei taha. Ma kardan, et teie seas vahest on riidu, kadedust, viha, jonni, laimamisi, keelekandmist, hooplemist, korratust;

21 ja et kui ma tulen, minu Jumal mind jälle alandab teie juures ja ma pean olema kurb mitme pärast, kes enne on teinud pattu ega ole pöördunud oma rüvedusest ja hoorusest ja kiimalusest, mida nad on harrastanud.