The Latin Vulgate VUL
Good News Translation GNT
1 si gloriari oportet non expedit quidem veniam autem ad visiones et revelationes Domini
1
I have to boast, even though it doesn't do any good. But I will now talk about visions and revelations given me by the Lord.
2 scio hominem in Christo ante annos quattuordecim sive in corpore nescio sive extra corpus nescio Deus scit raptum eiusmodi usque ad tertium caelum
2
I know a certain Christian man who fourteen years ago was snatched up to the highest heaven (I do not know whether this actually happened or whether he had a vision - only God knows).
3 et scio huiusmodi hominem sive in corpore sive extra corpus nescio Deus scit
3
I repeat, I know that this man was snatched to Paradise (again, I do not know whether this actually happened or whether it was a vision - only God knows), and there he heard things which cannot be put into words, things that human lips may not speak.
4 quoniam raptus est in paradisum et audivit arcana verba quae non licet homini loqui
5 pro eiusmodi gloriabor pro me autem nihil gloriabor nisi in infirmitatibus meis
5
So I will boast about this man - but I will not boast about myself, except the things that show how weak I am.
6 nam et si voluero gloriari non ero insipiens veritatem enim dicam parco autem ne quis in me existimet supra id quod videt me aut audit ex me
6
If I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will not boast, because I do not want any of you to have a higher opinion of me than you have as a result of what you have seen me do and heard me say.
7 et ne magnitudo revelationum extollat me datus est mihi stimulus carnis meae angelus Satanae ut me colaphizet
7
But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud.
8 propter quod ter Dominum rogavi ut discederet a me
8
Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away.
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
9
But his answer was: "My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak." I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me.
10 propter quod placeo mihi in infirmitatibus in contumeliis in necessitatibus in persecutionibus in angustiis pro Christo cum enim infirmor tunc potens sum
10
I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 factus sum insipiens vos me coegistis ego enim debui a vobis commendari nihil enim minus fui ab his qui sunt supra modum apostoli tametsi nihil sum
11
I am acting like a fool - but you have made me do it. You are the ones who ought to show your approval of me. For even if I am nothing, I am in no way inferior to those very special "apostles" of yours.
12 signa tamen apostoli facta sunt super vos in omni patientia signis et prodigiis et virtutibus
12
The many miracles and wonders that prove that I am an apostle were performed among you with much patience.
13 quid est enim quod minus habuistis prae ceteris ecclesiis nisi quod ego ipse non gravavi vos donate mihi hanc iniuriam
13
How were you treated any worse than the other churches, except that I did not bother you for financial help? Please forgive me for being so unfair!
14 ecce tertio hoc paratus sum venire ad vos et non ero gravis vobis non enim quaero quae vestra sunt sed vos nec enim debent filii parentibus thesaurizare sed parentes filiis
14
This is now the third time that I am ready to come to visit you - and I will not make any demands on you. It is you I want, not your money. After all, children should not have to provide for their parents, but parents should provide for their children.
15 ego autem libentissime inpendam et superinpendar ipse pro animabus vestris licet plus vos diligens minus diligar
15
I will be glad to spend all I have, and myself as well, in order to help you. Will you love me less because I love you so much?
16 sed esto ego vos non gravavi sed cum essem astutus dolo vos cepi
16
You will agree, then, that I was not a burden to you. But someone will say that I was tricky, and trapped you with lies.
17 numquid per aliquem eorum quos misi ad vos circumveni vos
17
How? Did I take advantage of you through any of the messengers I sent?
18 rogavi Titum et misi cum illo fratrem numquid Titus vos circumvenit nonne eodem spiritu ambulavimus nonne hisdem vestigiis
18
I begged Titus to go, and I sent the other believer with him. Would you say that Titus took advantage of you? Do not he and I act from the very same motives and behave in the same way?
19 olim putatis quod excusemus nos apud vos coram Deo in Christo loquimur omnia autem carissimi propter vestram aedificationem
19
Perhaps you think that all along we have been trying to defend ourselves before you. No! We speak as Christ would have us speak in the presence of God, and everything we do, dear friends, is done to help you.
20 timeo enim ne forte cum venero non quales volo inveniam vos et ego inveniar a vobis qualem non vultis ne forte contentiones aemulationes animositates dissensiones detractiones susurrationes inflationes seditiones sint inter vos
20
I am afraid that when I get there I will find you different from what I would like you to be and you will find me different from what you would like me to be. I am afraid that I will find quarreling and jealousy, hot tempers and selfishness, insults and gossip, pride and disorder.
21 ne iterum cum venero humiliet me Deus apud vos et lugeam multos ex his qui ante peccaverunt et non egerunt paenitentiam super inmunditia et fornicatione et inpudicitia quam gesserunt
21
I am afraid that the next time I come my God will humiliate me in your presence, and I shall weep over many who sinned in the past and have not repented of the immoral things they have done - their lust and their sexual sins.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.