EPISTOLA DI S. PAOLO II A'~CORINTI 12

Le visioni celesti e lo stecco nella carne

1 CERTO, il gloriarmi non mi è spediente; nondimeno io verrò alle visioni e rivelazioni del Signore.
2 Io conosco un uomo in Cristot, il quale, son già passati quattordici anni, fu rapitot (se fu col corpo, o senza il corpo, io nol so, Iddio il sa) fino al terzo cielo. 3 E so che quel tal uomo (se fu col corpo, o senza il corpo, io nol so, Iddio il sa)

4 fu rapito in paradisot, e udì parole ineffabili, le quali non è lecito ad uomo alcuno di proferire.
5 Io mi glorierò di quel tale; ma non mi glorierò di me stesso, se non nelle mie debolezzet.

6 Perciocchè, benchè io volessi gloriarmi, non però sarei pazzo; poichè direi verità; ma io me ne rimango, acciocchè niuno stimi di me sopra ciò ch'egli mi vede essere, ovvero ode da me.
7 Ed anche, acciocchè io non m'innalzi sopra modo per l'eccellenza delle rivelazioni, mi è stato dato uno stecco nella carnet, un angelo di Satanat, per darmi delle guanciate; acciocchè io non m'innalzi sopra modo. 8 Per la qual cosa ho pregato tre volte il Signoret, che quello si dipartisse da me. 9 Ma egli mi ha detto: La mia grazia ti basta; perciocchè la mia virtù si adempie in debolezzat. Perciò molto volentieri mi glorierò più tosto nelle mie debolezzet, acciocchè la virtù di Cristo mi ripari.

10 Perciò, io mi diletto in debolezze, in ingiurie, in necessità, in persecuzioni, in distrette per Cristot; perciocchè, quando io sono debole, allora son fortet.

Disinteresse di Paolo

13 Perciocchè, in che siete voi stati da meno delle altre chiese, se non ch'io non vi sono stato gravet? perdonatemi questo torto.
14 Ecco, questa è la terza volta ch'io son pronto a venire a voit, e non vi sarò grave; perchè io non cerco i vostri beni, ma voit; perciocchè i figliuolit non debbono far tesoro a'~padri ed alle madri, ma i padri e le madri ai figliuoli.

15 E quant'è a me, molto volentieri spenderò, anzi sarò spesot per le anime vostret; quantunque, amandovi io sommamentet, sia meno amato.
16 Ora, sia pur così ch'io non vi abbia gravati; ma forse, essendo astuto, vi ho presi per frode. 17 Ho io, per alcun di coloro che ho mandati a voi, fatto profitto di voi?

18 Io ho pregato Tito, ed ho con lui mandato questo fratellot. Tito ha egli fatto profitto di voi? non siamo noi camminati d'un medesimo spirito, per medesime pedate?

Ultimi avvertimenti ai Corinti. Saluti

2 Corinthians 12

Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh

1 It is necessary to go on boasting.t Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven.3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows)4 was caught up into paradises and heard things too sacred to be put into words,t things that a persont is not permitted to speak.5 On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.6 For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be tellingt the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regardt me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me,7 even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore,s so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to troublet me – so that I would not become arrogant.t8 I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me.9 Butt he said to me, “My grace is enought for you, for myst power is made perfectt in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladlyt about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside int me.

10 Therefore I am content witht weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficultiest for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

The Signs of an Apostle

11 I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparisont to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.12 Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverancet by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.t13 For howt were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not havet to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.15 Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives!t If I love you more, am I to be loved less?16 But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit!17 I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I?t18 I urged Titus to visit yout and I sent ourt brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he?t Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way?t19 Have you been thinking all this times that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.t20 For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find met not what you wish. I am afraid thatt somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition,t slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

21 I am afraid thatt when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve fort many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.