Paul's Visions and Revelations
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 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). 3-4 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. 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 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 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 Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. 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 I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul's Concern for the Corinthians
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 The many miracles and wonders that prove that I am an apostle were performed among you with much patience. 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 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 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 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 How? Did I take advantage of you through any of the messengers I sent? 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 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 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 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.
Ovirimunikise nomavandururiro wa Paulus
1 Ami mbi sokurihiva, nandarire kutja ingwi okurihiva kaku notjiṋa tji ku vatera. Nungwari nambano me hungire ovirimunikise nomavandururiro ngu mba pewa i Muhona. 2 Me tjiwa omukriste worive ngwa yererwe nga keyuru oritjatatu, ozombura omurongo na ine nḓa kapita. Ami hi nokutjiwa kutja eye wa yererwe orutu poo wa yererwe mombepo, Ndjambi porwe ongumatjiwa. 3-4 Me yarukire po, ami me tjiwa kutja omundu ngwi wa yererwe moparadisa. Hi nokutjiwa kutja eye wa yererwe orutu poo wa yererwe mombepo, Ndjambi porwe ongumatjiwa. Ingo eye oka kazuvira omambo omahimise nge ha sorwa okuhungirwa i omundu. 5 Omundu ngwi me mu hivire oviṋa mbi, nungwari ami hi nokurihiva omuini posi naimbi vyoungundi wandje. 6 Ami nandi mba vanga okurihiva, hi nokurira eyova, tjinga ame hungire ouatjiri. Nungwari me ritjaere kokurihiva, tjinga ambi hi nokuvanga kutja pe ninge omundu ngu me ndji vara kombanda yaihi tji ma munu ame tjiti poo tji ma zuu ame hungire.
7 Nungwari kutja e he ritongamisire oviṋa ovihimise, mbi mba muna, ami mba pewa okuiya monyama otja omuhindwa wa Satan okundjitona ozongomi, nokundjitjaera kutja e he ritongamisa. 8 Tutatu mba kumba ku Muhona kutja a ise po otjiṋa hi ku ami. 9 Nu eziriro re ra ri ndi: “otjari tjandje kove opu tjo, orondu omasa wandje maye yenenisiwa indu tji wa ngundipara.” Opu me zu okurihivira oungundi wandje, kokutja omasa wa Kristus ye rire ondjamo yandje. 10 Nopu me zu okukara nenyando moungundi, na momayambururiro, na momauzeu na mondatumisiro, na mozombamisiro motjimbe tja Kristus; Orondu tji mba ngundipara, owami omunamasa.
Paulus me rikendere ombongo yOvakorinte
11 Nambano ami mba tjita aayo owami eyova. Nungwari oweṋe mbu mwe ndji tjitisa nao. Hapo oweṋe mbu mwa sere okundjihiva. Orondu nandarire kutja ami hitjiṋa, hi ri kehi yovandu veṋu mbo mbu ku za “ovaapostele”. 12 Ovizemburukiro novihimise novyomasa, mbi raisa kutja owami omuapostele, mbe vi tjita mokati keṋu nomuretima omunene. 13 Indu eṋe mwa tjindwa navi komuhingo uṋe okukapita ozombongo ozongweṋu, posi yaindu tji mbi ha ningirire ombatero yotjimariva ku eṋe? Arikaneye, ndji isireye ouhasemba mbwi!
14 Nambano ihi otjikando otjitjatatu ami okurirongerera okuya ku eṋe, nu hi nokurira omutwaro ku eṋe. Hi nokuvanga ovimariva vyeṋu, nungwari me vanga eṋe. Nu hapo kavanatje ombe sokuhupisa ovanene vawo, nungwari ovanene ombe sokuhupisa ovanatje vawo. 15 Ami etje vanga okuyandja avihe mbi mbi na vyo, nangarire imbwi omuinyo wandje porwe, kokutja mbi mu vatere. Nami tji mbe mu suvera tjinene komeho okukapita, indu eṋe mamu ndji suvere kaṱiṱi are?
16 Osemba, ami hi mu pere ouzeu. Nungwari omundu mape ya a tja ami mba nongapara nga tji me mu uru novineya. 17 Indu mbi na pu mbe mu punda ovimariva na umwe wa imba mbu mba hindire ku eṋe are? 18 Ami mba ningirire Titus omukwetu omukambure okuya ku eṋe. Indu Titus u na pe mu pundire otjimariva are? Indu ami na ye katu ungura mombepo tjingeyo, nu katu twara ondjira tjingeyo are?
19 Ngahino eṋe mu tjangovasi eṱe aruhe nai tu kondja okuriyeura oveni komurungu weṋu. Kako, eṱe tu hungira otja Kristus punga e vanga kutja tu hungire komurungu wa Ndjambi. Navihe mbi tu tjita, vakwetu ovasuverwa, tu vi tjitira okuvatera eṋe. 20 Ami me tira kutja ngahino tji mbe ya ngo, me yokumuvaza amu he ri otja punga etje vanga, nokutja wina eṋe kamu nokundjimuna otja punga itjamu vanga. Me tira kutja me yokuvaza ozombata neruru nomazenge nokurivara oveni nomayambururiro notuyambo nomeritongamisiro nomazunganeno. 21 Wina me tira kutja tji mbe ya rukwao, Ndjambi wandje me ndji susuparisa komurungu weṋu, nokutja me ṱire imba ovengi veṋu oruhoze mba tura ondjo nu mbe he ritanaurire okuisa ouhakohoke noruvakiro nourunde woviṋa vyonyama, mbi va tjitire.
