2 Corinthians: Revised Murdock Translation

I. 1 PAULOS a apostle of Yeshua Mshikha, by the good pleasure of Alaha; and Timotheos a brother; to the church of Alaha that is at Corinth, and to all the saints that are in all Achaia. 2 Grace be with you, and peace, from Alaha our Father, and from Maran Yeshua Mshikha. 3 Blessed be Alaha, the Father of Maran Yeshua Mshikha, the Father of mercies, and the Alaha of all consolation; 4 who comforts us in all our afflictions, that we also might be able to comfort those who are in all afflictions, with the consolation wherewith we are comforted by Alaha. 5 For, as the sufferings of Mshikha abound in us, so also our consolation abounds by Mshikha. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and for your life that we are afflicted; or whether we be comforted, it is, that you may be comforted; and that there may be in you an eagerness, wherewith you may endure those sufferings which we also suffer. 7 And our hope concerning you is steadfast: for we know, that if you partake of the sufferings, you will also partake of the consolation. 8 But, my brethren, we wish you to know, respecting the affliction that was upon us in Asia, that we were afflicted exceedingly, beyond our strength, insomuch that our life was ready to terminate. 9 And we passed a sentence of death upon ourselves, that our confidence might not be in ourselves, but in Alaha, who raises up the dead; 10 who rescued us from imminent death: and we hope that he will again rescue us, 11 by the aid of your prayers in our behalf; so that his gift to us may be a favor done for the sake of many, and many may praise him on our account. 12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and purity, and by the grace of Alaha, and not in the wisdom of the flesh, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially towards you. 13 We write no other things unto you, than those which you know and acknowledge. And I trust, you will acknowledge them to the end: 14 as you have also partially acknowledged that we are your rejoicing, as you also are ours, in the day of Maran Yeshua Mshikha. 15 And in this confidence, I was before disposed to come to you, that you might receive the grace doubly; 16 and to pass by you into Macedonia, and again to come to you from Macedonia, and [so] you would accompany me to Judaea. 17 When therefore I thus purposed, did I purpose as one inconsiderate ? Or, were the things I purposed, things of the flesh; so that there should be in them Yes, yes, and No, no? 18 Alaha is the witness, that our word to you was not Yes and No. 19 For the Son of Alaha, Yeshua Mshikha, who was preached to you by us, [namely,] by me, by Sylvanus, and by Timotheus, was not Yes and No; but it was Yes in him. 20 For all the promises of Alaha in him, Mshikha, are Yes; for which cause, we through him give [our] Amen, to the glory of Alaha. 21 Now it is Alaha who establishes us, with you, in Mshikha, and has anointed us, 22 and has sealed us, and has given the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts. 23 Moreover, I call Alaha for a witness on my soul, that it was in order to spare you, that I came not to Corinth. 24 Not that we are lords over your faith, but we are helpers of your joy; for it is by faith you stand. II. 1 And I determined this with myself, that I would not again come to you in sadness. 2 For if I should make you sad, who would make me joyful, unless he whom I had made sad ? 3 And I wrote that very thing to you, lest when I came, those persons whom I ought to make joyful, should make me sad. For I have confidence concerning you, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 And in much affliction, and in anguish of heart, I wrote those things to you, with many tears; not that you might have sorrow, but that you might know the exceeding love I have for you. 5 And if one has caused grief, he has not grieved me [only], but,-that the declaration may not bear too hard on you-in a measure, all of you. 6 And sufficient for him, is this rebuke proceeding from many: 7 so that, on the other hand, you ought to forgive him and console him; lest he who is such a man, should be swallowed up with excessive grief. 8 I therefore beseech you, that you confirm to him your love. 9 For it was for this also that I wrote [to you], that I might learn by a trial, whether you would be obedient in every thing. 10 And whom you forgive, I also [forgive]: for that which I forgave to any one, for your sakes I forgave it, in the presence of Mshikha; 11 lest Satan should overreach us; for we know his devices. 12 Moreover, when I came to Troas in announcing Mshikha, and a door was opened to me by Mar-Yah, 13 there was no quietude in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: and I took leave of them, and went into Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to Alaha, who always procures us a triumph in Mshikha, and manifests by us the odor of the knowledge of him in every place. 15 For, through Mshikha, we are unto Alaha a sweet odor, in them that live and in them that perish: 16 to these, an odor of death unto death; and to those, an odor of life unto life. And who is adequate to these things ! 17 For we are not like others, who dilute the words of Alaha; but as of the truth, and as of Alaha, we speak in Mshikha before Alaha. III. 1 Do we begin again to show you who we are ? Or do we, like others, need that letters recommendatory of us should be written to you? Or, that you should write recommendations of us ? 2 You are our epistle, written on our hearts, and known and read by every man. 3 For you know that you are an epistle of Mshikha, ministered by us; not written with ink, but by the Spirit of the living Alaha; not on tables of stone, but on the tablets of the heart of flesh. 4 And such confidence have we in Mshikha towards Alaha. 5 Not that we are sufficient to think any thing as of ourselves; but our efficiency is from Alaha: 6 who has fitted us to be ministers of the new Testament, not in the letter, but in the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministration of death was engraved upon stones in writing, and was so glorious that the children of Yisrael could not look on the face of Mosha, on account of the glory upon his face which vanished away; 8 how then shall not the ministration of the Spirit be still more glorious? 9 For if there was glory in the ministration of condemnation, how much more shall the ministration of justification excel in glory ? 10 For that which was glorious, was as if not glorious, in comparison with this which excels in glory. 11 For if that which is abolished was glorious, much more must that which abides be glorious. 12 Seeing therefore we have this hope, we the more speak with boldness; 13 and are not like Mosha, who threw a veil over his face, that the children of Yisrael might not behold the termination of that which was abolished. 14 But they were blinded in their understanding; for until this day, when the old Testament is read, the same veil rests upon them; nor is it manifest [to them], that it is abolished by Mshikha. 15 And unto this day, when Mosha is read, a veil is thrown upon their hearts. 16 But when any of them is turned unto Mar-Yah, the veil is taken from him. 17 Now Mar-Yah himself is the Spirit. And where the Spirit of Mar-Yah is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with uncovered faces, behold as in a mirror the glory of Mar-Yah; and are transformed into the same likeness, from glory to glory, as by Mar-Yah the Spirit. IV. 1 Therefore, we are not weary in this ministry which we have received, according to the mercies that have been upon us: 2 But we have renounced the concealments of dishonor, and we walk not in craftiness, nor do we treat the word of Alaha deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth, we exhibit ourselves to all the consciences of men before Alaha. 3 And if our gospel is vailed, it is vailed to them that perish; 4 to them whose minds the Alaha of this world has blinded, in order that they might not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Mshikha (who is the likeness of Alaha) should dawn upon them. 5 For it is not ourselves that we preach, but Mshikha, Yeshua Maran; and, as to ourselves, that we are your servants for Yeshua' sake. 6 Because Alaha, who commanded the light to arise from darkness, has himself shined in our hearts, that we might be illuminated with the knowledge of the glory of Alaha on the face of Yeshua Mshikha. 7 But we have this treasure in an earthen vessel, that the excellency of the power might be from Alaha, and not from us. 8 And in every thing we are oppressed, but not suffocated; we are corrected, but not condemned; 9 we are persecuted, but not forsaken; we are prostrated, but perish not. 10 For we bear in our body, at all times, the dying of Yeshua; that the life also of Yeshua might be manifested in our body. 11 For if we are delivered over alive unto death, for Yeshua' sake, even so also will the life of Yeshua be manifested in this our mortal body. 12 Now therefore, in us death is active, but in you, life. 13 Having therefore the same spirit of faith, (as it is written, I believed, therefore also have I spoken,) we also believe, and therefore speak; 14 knowing that he, who resuscitated Maran Yeshua, will also resuscitate us by Yeshua, and will receive us, with you, to himself. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that while grace abounds by means of many, thanksgiving may abound to the glory of Alaha. 16 For this cause we faint not; for though our outward man perish, yet the inner [man] is renovated day by day. 17 For the affliction of the present time, though very small and light, prepares for us great glory, without end, for ever and ever; 18 while we look not at these seen things, but at those not seen; for these seen things are temporary, but those not seen are eternal. V. 1 For we know that, if our house on earth-this of the body, were dissolved, yet we have a building of Alaha, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven. 2 And on this account also, we groan, and wish to be clothed with our house from heaven: 3 if indeed, when clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For while we are here in this house, we groan under its burden; yet you desire, not to throw it off; but to be clothed over it, so that its mortality may be absorbed in life. 5 And he that prepares us for this thing, is Alaha: who has given us the earnest of his Spirit. 6 Therefore, because we know and are persuaded, that while we lodge in the body we sojourn away from Maran; 7 (for we walk by faith, and not by sight ;) 8 therefore we are confident, and desirous to be away from the body, and to be with Maran. 9 We are assiduous, that whether we are absent, or whether at home, we may please him. 10 For we are all to stand before the judgment-seat of Mshikha, that each may receive retribution in the body, [for] what he has done in it, whether of good, or whether of evil. 11 Therefore because we know the fear of Maran we persuade men; and we are made manifest unto Alaha; and I hope also, we are made manifest to your minds. 12 We do not again laud ourselves to you; but we give you occasion to glory in us, to them who glory in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are extravagant, it is for Alaha: and if we are discreet, it is for you. 14 For the love of Mshikha constrains us to reason thus: One died for all; therefore are all dead. 15 And he died for all, that they who live should not live to themselves, but to him who died for them and rose again. 16 And therefore, we know no person after the flesh: and if we have known Mshikha after the flesh, yet henceforth we know [him] no more. 17 Whoever therefore is in Mshikha, is a new creature: old things have passed away; 18 and all things are made new, by Alaha; who has reconciled us to himself by Mshikha, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 For Alaha was in Mshikha, who has reconciled the world with his majesty, and did not reckon to them their sins; and who has placed in us the word of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore ambassadors for Mshikha, and it is as if Alaha was beseeching you by us. In behalf of Mshikha, therefore, we beseech [you], be you reconciled to Alaha. 21 For, on your account, he has made him who knew no sin to be sin, that we might by him become the righteousness of Alaha. VI. 1 And as aiders we entreat of you, that the grace of Alaha which you have received, may not be ineffectual in you. 2 For he has said, In an acceptable time have I heard you, and in the day of life I have aided you. Behold, now is the acceptable time ! and behold, now is the day of life ! 3 Give you no occasion of offense to any one in any thing, that there may be no reproach on our ministry. 4 But we, in all things, would show ourselves to be the ministers of Alaha, in much endurance, in afflictions, in necessity, in distresses, 5 in scourgings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in toil, in watching, in fasting; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by long suffering, by benignity, by the Holy Spirit, by love unfeigned, 7 by the speaking of truth, by the energy of Alaha, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left; 8 amid honor and dishonor, amid praise and contumely; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as not known, and yet we are well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastised, yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as indigent, yet enriching many; as possessing nothing, yet having all things. 11 O you Corinthians, our mouth is opened towards you, and our heart expanded. 12 You are not straitened in us, but you are straitened in your own bowels. 13 I speak as to [my] children, Pay me the debt which you owe, and expand your love towards me. 14 And be you not yoke-fellows with them that believe not: for what fellowship has righteousness with iniquity ? or what communion has light with darkness? 15 or what concord has Mshikha with Satan? or what part has a believer with an unbeliever ? 16 or what agreement has the temple of Alaha with that of demons ? For you are the temple of the living Alaha; as it is said, I will dwell among them, and walk among them, and will be their Alaha, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore, come you out from among them, and be you separate from them, says Mar-Yah; and come not near the unclean thing, and I will receive you; 18 and will be to you a Father, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says Mar-Yah Almighty. VII. 1 Seeing, therefore, we have these promises, my beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and of the spirit; and let us work righteousness, in the fear of Alaha. 2 Bear with us, my brethren; we have done evil to no one; we have corrupted no one; we have wronged no one. 3 I speak [thus], not to condemn you; for I have said before, that you are treasured in our hearts, to die and to live together. 4 I have great assurance before you, and have much glorying in you; and I am full of comfort. And joy greatly abounds to me, in all my afflictions. 5 For, after we came to Macedonia, there was no rest for our body, but we were distressed in every thing; without was conflict, and within was fear. 6 But Alaha who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the arrival of Titus. 7 And not merely by his arrival, but also by the refreshing with which he was refreshed by you. For he told us of your love towards us, and of your grief, and of your zeal in our behalf: and when I heard it, my joy was great. 8 And although I made you sad by the epistle, I do not regret it, though I did regret it; for I see that that epistle, though for a time it made you sad, 9 yet it procured me joy, not because you had sorrow, but because your sorrow brought you to repentance; for you sorrowed in godly sorrow; so that you received no detriment from us. 10 For, sorrowing on account of Alaha, works a conversion of the soul which is not reversed, and a turning unto life: but the sorrowing of the world works death. 11 For behold this same thing, that you were distressed on account of Alaha, what solicitude it wrought in you, and apologizing and indignation, and fear, and love, and zeal, and revenge? And in all things you have shown, that you are [now] pure in that matter. 12 And it will be [seen] that I wrote to you, not for the sake of him who did the wrong, nor for the sake of him who received the wrong, [only,] but that your solicitude in respect to us might be known before Alaha. 13 Wherefore we were comforted; and with our consolation, we were the more joyful for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all: 14 so that I was not ashamed of that in which I had gloried to him, respecting you; but as in every thing we spoke the truth to you, so also our glorying before Titus, is found to be in truth: 15 and also his bowels are the more enlarged towards you, while he remembers the submission of you all, and how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, that in every thing I have full confidence in you. VIII. 1 And, my brethren, we make known to you the grace of Alaha which was conferred on the churches of the Macedonians; 2 that in the great trial of their affliction, there was an abounding to their joy, and the depth of their poverty was exuberant in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I testify that, according to their ability, and beyond their ability, in the spontaneity of their mind, 4 they besought us, with much entreaty, that they might participate in the beneficence of the ministration to the saints. 5 And not [only] as we had expected, but they first gave themselves unto the Lord, and to us by the will of Alaha. 6 So that we requested Titus, that as he had begun, so he would perfect in you also the same beneficence. 7 And as you are enriched in every thing, in faith, and speech, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in our love towards you, so abound you in this beneficence also. 8 I do not actually command you, but by the promptitude of your fellow [disciples], I would test the sincerity of your love. 9 For you know the goodness of Maran Yeshua Mshikha, who when he was rich, for your sakes became poor, that by his poverty you might be made rich. 10 And I urgently recommend to you, that which is for your advantage; inasmuch as you began, a year ago, not only to purpose, but also to perform. 11 And now complete you by action, what you purposed; that as you had a promptitude in your purposing, so you may fulfill [it] in action, according to your ability. 12 For if there is a willingness, a person is accepted according to what he has, and not according to what he has not. 13 For it is not, that others may have easement, and you pressure; 14 but that you may be on equality at the present time; and that your abundance may be [a supply] to their want; that their abundance likewise may be [a supply] to your want; that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, He who gathered much, had nothing over; and he that gathered little, was not deficient. 16 But thanks be to Alaha, who put into the heart of Titus this solicitude for you. 17 For he received our exhortation; and, because he was very anxious, he cheerfully set out to visit you. 18 And we also sent with him that our brother, whose praise in the gospel is in all the churches; 19 inasmuch as he likewise had been expressly chosen by the churches, to accompany me with this beneficence which is ministered by us to the glory of Alaha and to our cordiality. 20 And we hereby guarded, that no one should cast censure on us, in [respect to] this abundance which is ministered by us. 21 For we are attentive to things commendable, not only before Alaha, but also before men. 22 And we also sent with them that brother of ours, who has often, and in many things, been proved diligent by us; and is now particularly diligent, from the great confidence [he has] in you. 23 And therefore, if Titus [be inquired about], he is my associate and assistant among you: or if our other brethren, they are the apostles of the churches of Mshikha's glory. 24 Therefore exhibit you to them, in the presence of all the churches, a demonstration of your love and of our glorying respecting you. IX. 1 And concerning the ministration by the saints, it would be superfluous for me to write to you: 2 for I know the goodness of your mind; and therefore I gloried of you before the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has excited many. 3 Yet I sent the brethren, lest the glorying with which we have gloried in you in regard to this matter, should prove vain; and that you, as I said, may be ready; 4 so that, if the Macedonians should come with me, and should find you unprepared, we-not to say, you-should be put to shame for that glorying in which we gloried. 5 Therefore I was careful to request these my brethren, to go before me unto you, that they might make up this benefaction, of which you were advised long before to have it ready, as being a benefaction, and not a matter of cupidity. 6 And this [I say]: He that sows sparingly, shall also reap sparingly; and he that sows bountifully, shall also reap bountifully. 7 Every man, according to his own views, not with sadness, not by constraint: for the Lord loves a joyous giver. 8 For it is in the power of Alaha, to make all good abound to you, so that you may have, at all times, and in every thing, what is sufficient for you; and may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, He has dispersed and given to the poor; and his righteousness is established for ever. 10 Now he that gives seed to the sower, and bread for food, may he give and multiply your seed, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: 11 so that in every thing, you may be enriched unto all liberality, to the completion of our thanksgiving to Alaha. 12 For the performance of this ministration, not only supplies the want of the saints, but is also rich in many thanksgivings to Alaha. 13 For on account of the test of this ministration, we glorify Alaha, that you do subject yourselves to the profession of the gospel of Mshikha, and that in your liberality, you communicate with them and with all men: 14 and they put up prayer for you, with much love, because of the abundance of the grace of Alaha that is upon you. 15 Thanks be to Alaha for his unspeakable gift. X. 1 Now I, Paulos, beseech you, by the mildness and gentleness of Mshikha, although I am mild towards you when present, but bold towards you when absent ! 2 yet I beseech of you that, when I come, I may not be compelled by the boldness that is in me to be daring, as I estimate it, towards the persons who think we walk according to the flesh. 3 For, although we walk in the flesh, our warfare is not after the flesh. 4 For the arms of our warfare are not those of the flesh, but those of the power of Alaha; by which we subdue rebellious castles. 5 And we demolish imaginations, and every lofty thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Alaha, and subjugate all reasonings to obedience to Mshikha. 6 And we are prepared, when your obedience shall be complete, to execute judgment on all the disobeying. 7 Do you look on outward appearances ? If any one is confident in himself that he is of Mshikha, let him know, from himself, that as he is of Mshikha, so also are we. 8 For if I should glory somewhat more, in the authority which Maran has given me, I should not be ashamed; for he gave it to us for your edification, and not for your destruction. 9 But I forbear, lest I should be thought to terrify you terribly, by my epistles. 10 For there are some who say, [His] epistles are weighty and forcible, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11 But let him who says so, consider this, that such as we are in our epistolary discourse, when absent, such also are we in action, when present. 12 For we dare not value, or compare ourselves, with those who vaunt: but they, because they compare themselves with themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not glory beyond our measure, but within the measure of the limits which Alaha has imparted to us, that we should reach as far as you. 14 For we do not stretch ourselves, as if not reaching to you; for we do reach as far as you in the annunciation of Mshikha. 15 And we do not glory beyond our measure, in the toil of others: but we have the hope, that when your faith shall mature, we shall be magnified by you, as [being within] our measure; 16 and that we shall so abound also, as to make announcements beyond you. It is not in the measure of others, [and] in things ready prepared, that we will glory. 17 But let him that will glory, glory in Mar-Yah. 18 For not he who praises himself, is approved; but he whom Mar-Yah praises. XI. 1 I would that you could bear with me a little, that I might talk foolishly: and indeed, bear you with me. 2 For I am jealous over you, with a godly jealousy : for I have espoused you to a husband as a chaste virgin, whom I would present to Mshikha. 3 But I fear, lest, as the serpent beguiled Eve by his craftiness, so your minds should be corrupted from simplicity towards Mshikha. 4 For if he that comes to you, had proclaimed to you another Yeshua, whom we have not proclaimed; or if you had received another Spirit, which you have not received; or another gospel, which you have not accepted; you might well have given assent. 5 For, I suppose, I came not short of those apostles who most excel. 6 For, though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but in all things we have been manifest among you. 7 Did I indeed commit an offense, by humbling myself that you might be exalted ? and by proclaiming the gospel of Alaha to you gratis? 8 And I robbed other churches, and I took pay [of them] for ministering to you. 9 And when I came among you and was needy, I was burdensome to none of you; for the brethren who came from Macedonia, supplied my wants: and in all things I kept myself, and I will keep myself, from being burdensome to you. 10 As the truth of Mshikha is in me, this glorying shall not be made vain as to me in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why ? Because I do not love you? Alaha knows. 12 But what I do, that also I will do; that I may cut off occasion, from them who seek occasion: so that in the thing wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For they are false apostles, crafty workers, and feign themselves to be apostles of Mshikha. 14 And in this there is nothing strange. For if Satan feigns himself an angel of light, 15 it is no great thing if his ministers feign themselves ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 16 Again I say, let no one think of me, as being a fool: or if otherwise, receive me as a fool, that I may glory a little. 17 What I am [now] saying, I say not in Maran, but as in folly, in this matter of glorying. 18 Because many glory after the flesh, I also will glory. 19 For you hear with indulgence them who lack reason, seeing you are wise. 20 And you give ear to him, who puts you in bondage; and to him, who devours you; and to him, who takes from you; and to him, who exalts himself over you; and to him, who smites you in the face. 21 I speak as if under contempt: I speak as if we were impotent, through deficiency of understanding; that in whatever thing any one is presuming, I also am presuming. 22 If they are Hebrews, so I also: or if they are Yisraelites, I also. If they are the seed of Avraham, I also. 23 If they are ministers of Mshikha, (in defect of understanding, I say it,) I am superior to them: in toils more than they, in stripes more than they, in bonds more than they, in deaths many times. 24 By the Jews, five times was I scourged, each time with forty stripes save one. 25 Three times was I beaten with rods: at one time I was stoned: three times I was in shipwreck, by day and by night; I have been in the sea, without a ship. 26 In journeyings many, in peril by rivers, in peril by robbers, in peril from my kindred, in peril from Gentiles: I have been in peril in cities; I have been in peril in the desert, in peril in the sea, in peril from false brethren. 27 In toil and weariness, in much watching, in hunger and thirst, in much fasting, in cold and nakedness: 28 besides many other things, and the thronging around me every day, and my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who becomes weak, and I become not weak ? Who is stumbled, and I burn not ? 30 If I must glory, I will glory in my infirmities. 31 Alaha, the Father of Maran Yeshua Mshikha, blessed for ever and ever, he knows that I lie not. 32 At Damascus, the commander of the army of Aretas the king, guarded the city of the Damascenes, to seize me. 33 And from a window, in a basket, they let me down from the wall, and I escaped from his hands. XII. 1 Glorying must be, but it is not profitable: so I proceed to visions and revelations of Maran. 2 I knew a man in Mshikha fourteen years ago, (but whether in a body, or whether out of a body, I know not; Alaha knows :) who was caught up to the third [region] of heaven. 3 And I knew this same man; (but whether in a body, or out of a body, I know not; Alaha knows ;) 4 and he was caught up to Paradise, and heard ineffable words, which it is not permitted a man to utter. 5 Of him I will glory: but of myself I will not glory, except in my infirmities. 6 Yet if I were disposed to glory, I should not be without reason; for I declare the truth. But I refrain, lest any one should think of me, beyond what he sees in me and hears from me. 7 And, that I might not be uplifted by the excellency of the revelations, there was imparted to me a thorn in my flesh, the angel of Satan, to buffet me, that I might not be uplifted. 8 Respecting this, I thrice besought my Lord, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you; for my power is perfected in weakness. Gladly, therefore, will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Mshikha may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I have pleasure in infirmities, in reproach, in afflictions, in persecutions, in distresses, which are for Mshikha's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 11 Behold, I have become foolish in my glorying, for you compelled me. For you ought to bear witness for me; because I was inferior in nothing to those apostles who most excel, although I was nothing. 12 I wrought among you the signs of the apostles, with all patience; and in prodigies, and in wonders, and in mighty deeds. 13 For in what fell you short of the other churches; except in this, that I was not burdensome to you ? Forgive me this fault. 14 Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not burden you; for I seek not yours, but you: for children ought not to lay up treasures for the parents, but the parents for their children. 15 And cheerfully will I both pay [my] expenses, and also give myself for your souls; although the more I love you, the less you love me. 16 But perhaps, though I was not burdensome to you, yet, like a cunning man, I filched from you by craftiness ! 17 Was it by the hand of some other person whom I sent to you, that I pilfered from you? 18 I requested Titus, and with him I sent the brethren: did Titus pilfer any thing from you? Did we not walk in one spirit, and in the same steps ? 19 Do you again suppose, that we would apologize to you? Before Alaha, in Mshikha we speak: and all these things, my beloved, [are] for the sake of your edification. 20 For I fear, lest I should come to you and not find you such as I would wish; and lest I also should be found by you, such as you would not wish; lest [there should be] contention, and envying, and anger, and obstinacy, and slandering, and murmuring, and insolence, and commotion; 21 lest, when I come to you, my Alaha should humble me; and I should mourn over many, who have sinned, and have not repented of the impurity, the whoredom, and the lasciviousness, which they have committed. XIII. 1 This is the third time that I have prepare to come to you; that, by the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be established. 2 I have before said to you, and again I say to you beforehand, (as also I said to you a second time, while I was with you; and now also, while absent, I write to those who have sinned and to the others,) that if I come again, I will not spare: 3 because you demand proof, that it is Mshikha that speaks by me, who has not been powerless among you, but powerful among you. 4 For, though he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives with the power of Alaha. We also are weak with him; yet we are alive with him, by that power of Alaha which is among you. 5 Examine yourselves, whether you stand in the faith: prove yourselves. Do you not acknowledge that Yeshua Mshikha is in you ? And if [he is] not, you are reprobates. 6 But, I trust, you will know that we are not reprobates. 7 And I beseech Alaha, that there may be no evil in you, so that the proof of us may appear: and yet, that you may be doers of good things, though we be as reprobates. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but [only] for the truth. 9 And we rejoice, when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray for, that you may be perfected. 10 Therefore, while absent, I write these things; lest when I come, I should act with rigor, according to the authority which my Lord has given me for your edification, and not for your destruction. 11 Finally, my brethren, rejoice, and be perfected, and be comforted: and may harmony and quietness be among you; and the Alaha of love and of peace will be with you. 12 Salute you one another, with a holy kiss. All the saints salute you. 13 The peace of Maran Yeshua Mshikha, and the love of Alaha, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. End of the second epistle to the Corinthians: which was written from Philippi of Macedonia, and was sent by the hands of Titus.