Second Corinthians
« Chapter 12 »
1
Boasting does not benefit, but I have to continue and inform you about visions from our mawla and what he revealed to me:
لَا يَنْفَعُ الِافْتِخَارُ، لَكِنْ عَلَيَّ أَنْ أُكَمِّلَ وَأُخْبِرَكُمْ عَنِ الرُّؤَى مِنْ عِنْدِ مَوْلَانَا وَمَا أَوْحَى لِي:
2
I know a man who belongs to Al-Masih. Fourteen years ago, Allah kidnapped him up to the highest heavens. I don't know if this kidnapping was bodily or outside the body. Allah knows best.
أَعْرِفُ رَجُلًا مُنْتَمِيًا إِلَى الْمَسِيحِ، خَطَفَهُ اللهُ قَبْلَ أَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً إِلَى أَعْلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ، وَلَا أَعْلَمُ إِنْ كَانَ خَطْفُهُ بِالْجَسَدِ أَوْ خَارِجَ الْجَسَدِ، اَللهُ أَعْلَمُ.
3
I know that he (I don't know whether bodily or separate from the body - Allah knows best)
وَأَعْرِفُ أَنَّ ذَاكَ، لَا أَعْلَمُ إِنْ كَانَ بِالْجَسَدِ أَوْ مُنْفَصِلًا عَنْهُ، اَللهُ أَعْلَمُ،
4
was kidnapped up to Al-Firdaus, and he heard words that people may not speak about.
قَدِ اخْتُطِفَ إِلَى الْفِرْدَوْسِ وَأَنَّهُ سَمِعَ كَلَامًا لَا يَجُوزُ لِلْبَشَرِ أَنْ يَنْطِقَ بِهِ.
5
I boast about this, but I will not boast about myself, except about what is related to my weaknesses.
فَبِذَاكَ أَفْتَخِرُ، لَكِنَّنِي لَنْ أَفْتَخِرَ عَنْ نَفْسِي إِلَّا بِمَا يَخُصُّ ضَعَفَاتِي.
6
If I desired to boast, I would not be silly, since I would only say the truth. But I will abstain from that, so that no one would consider me greater than what he sees in me or hears from me.
وَلَوْ رَغَبْتُ فِي الِافْتِخَارِ، لَنْ أَكُونَ سَخِيفًا إِذْ لَنْ أَقُولَ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ، لَكِنَّنِي سَأَمْتَنِعُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ، لِئَلَّا يَحْسَبَ أَحَدٌ أَنَّنِي أَعْظَمُ مِمَّا يَرَانِي أَوْ يَسْمَعُ مِنِّي،
7
And so that I would not be proud of the greatness of this inspiration, Allah gave me a thorn in my body. Al-Shaitan sent it to torment me, so that I would not be proud.
وَلِئَلَّا أَتَكَبَّرَ مِنْ عَظَمَةِ ذَلِكَ الْوَحْيِ، أَعْطَانِي اللهُ شَوْكَةً فِي جَسَدِي أَطْلَقَهَا الشَّيْطَانُ لِيُعَذِّبَنِي حَتَّى لَا أَتَكَبَّرَ،
8
I begged my mawla three times to remove it from me.
وَقَدْ تَوَسَّلْتُ إِلَى مَوْلَايَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ أَنْ يُزِيلَهَا عَنِّي،
9
But he told me: "My grace is enough for you, since my power is completed in weakness." Therefore I happily boast in my weakness, so that the power of Al-Masih would come upon me.
لَكِنَّهُ قَالَ لِي: «حَسْبُكَ فَضْلِي، إِذْ بِالضَّعْفِ تَكْتَمِلُ قُوَّتِي.» لِذَلِكَ أَفْتَخِرُ مَسْرُورًا بِضَعْفِي، حَتَّى تَحِلَّ عَلَيَّ قُوَّةُ الْمَسِيحِ،
10
Therefore I have rida in weakness, dishonor, deprivation, persecution, and hardship in the path of Al-Masih. I am strong in my weakness.
فَلِذَلِكَ، أَرْضَى عَنِ الضَّعْفِ وَالْإِهَانَةِ وَالْحِرْمَانِ وَالِاضْطِهَادِ وَالضِّيقِ فِي سَبِيلِ الْمَسِيحِ، إِذْ أَنَا قَوِيٌّ بِضَعْفِي.
11
You have forced me to this silliness. You should have commended me, since I am not lower that those superlative messengers, even though I am nothing.
لَقَدْ أَجْبَرْتُمُونِي عَلَى هَذِهِ السَّخَافَةِ، وَكَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ تَمْدَحُونِي، إِذْ لَسْتُ أَدْنَى مِنْ أُولَئِكَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ الْمُتَفَوِّقِينَ، مَعَ أَنَّنِي لَسْتُ شَيْئًا،
12
I showed you the miracles of a messenger with all patience, the miracles, impossibilities, and great ayat.
وَأَظْهَرْتُ لَكُمْ بَيِّنَاتِ الْمُرْسَلِ بِكُلِّ صَبْرٍ، وَهِيَ الْبَيِّنَاتُ وَالْمُعْجِزَاتُ وَالْآيَاتُ الْكُبْرَى.
13
فَفِي أَيِّ شَيْءٍ كُنْتُمْ أَقَلَّ شَأْنًا مِنْ جَمَاعَاتِ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ الْأُخْرَى، إِلَّا أَنَّنِي لَمْ أُثَقِّلْ عَلَيْكُمْ؟ سَامِحُونِي عَلَى هَذَا الظُّلْمِ!
14
I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden for you. I do not seek for what you have but for you. Children should not save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
أَنَا مُسْتَعِدٌّ أَنْ أَزُورَكُمْ لِلْمَرَّةِ الثَّالِثَةِ، وَلَنْ أُثَقِّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ، إِذْ لَا أَسْعَى إِلَى مَا عِنْدَكُمْ بَلْ إِلَيْكُمْ أَنْتُمْ، فَلَيْسَ عَلَى الْأَوْلَادِ أَنْ يَذْخَرُوا مِنْ أَجْلِ آبَائِهِمْ، بَلِ الْآبَاءِ لِأَوْلَادِهِمْ.
15
So I will most gladly spend for you and give my soul for your souls. If my love has increased toward you, will your love toward me decrease?
فَبِكُلِّ سُرُورٍ سَأَتَوَلَّى الْإِنْفَاقَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَجُودُ بِنَفْسِي عَلَى نُفُوسِكُمْ. وَلَوْ أَنَّنِي كُلَّمَا كَثُرَتْ مَحَبَّتِي لَكُمْ، هَلْ تَقِلُّ مَحَبَّتُكُمْ لِي؟
16
Despite that, I will not burden you. Was I tricky? Did I take you with deception?
رَغْمَ ذَلِكَ، لَمْ أُثَقِّلْ عَلَيْكُمْ. هَلْ كُنْتُ مَاكِرًا فَأَخَذْتُكُمْ بِخُدْعَةٍ؟
17
Did anyone among all those I have sent take advantage of you?
هَلِ اسْتَغَلَّكُمْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ بَيْنِ جَمِيعِ الَّذِينَ بَعَثْتُهُمْ إِلَيْكُمْ؟
18
I urged Titus and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit and the same steps?
نَاشَدْتُ تِيطُسَ وَأَرْسَلْتُ مَعَهُ الْأَخَ. هَلِ اسْتَغَلَّكُمْ تِيطُسُ؟ أَلَمْ نَسِرْ بِنَفْسِ الرُّوحِ وَنَفْسِ الْخَطَوَاتِ؟
19
Do you still imagine that we are defending ourselves before you? We speak before Allah as we belong to Al-Masih. All that is for your strengthening, beloved ones.
هَلْ تَظُنُّونَ حَتَّى الْآنَ أَنَّنَا نُدَافِعُ عَنْ أَنْفُسِنَا أَمَامَكُمْ؟ نَحْنُ نَتَكَلَّمُ أَمَامَ اللهِ مُنْتَمِينَ إِلَى الْمَسِيحِ، وَكُلُّ ذَلِكَ لِتَعْزِيزِكُمْ،أَيُّهَا الْأَحِبَّاءُ.
20
I fear that when I come to you, you will not be what I want, and I will not be what you want. I fear there will be strife, envy, anger, division, criticism, gossip, pride, and chaos.
إِنَّنِي أَخْشَى أَنْ آتِيَكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ عَلَى غَيْرِ مَا أُرِيدُ وَأَنَا عَلَى غَيْرِ مَا تُرِيدُونَ، وَأَنْ يَكُونَ بَيْنَكُمْ خِصَامٌ وَحَسَدٌ وَغَضَبٌ وَانْشِقَاقٌ وَنَقْدٌ وَنَمِيمَةٌ وَتَكَبُّرٌ وَفَوْضَى،
21
I fear that I will come to you and that my Rabb will put me lower in front of you. I will be sad over many who have sinned beforehand and have not repented from the uncleanness, immorality, and moral depravity they practiced.
وَأَخْشَى أَنْ آتِيَكُمْ فَيَخْفِضُنِي رَبِّي أَمَامَكُمْ، وَأَحْزَنُ عَلَى كَثِيرِينَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أَذْنَبُوا سَابِقًا وَلَمْ يَتُوبُوا عَمَّا مَارَسُوهُ مِنَ النَّجَاسَةِ وَالْفِسْقِ وَالْفَحْشَاءِ.