1 E n realidad, nada gano con vanagloriarme. Sin embargo, ahora voy a hablar de las visiones y de las revelaciones del Señor.

I have to talk about myself, even if it does no good. But I will keep on telling about some things I saw in a special dream and that which the Lord has shown me.

2 S é de un hombre en Cristo, que hace catorce años fue arrebatado hasta el tercer cielo (sólo Dios sabe si esto ocurrió físicamente o no),

I know a man who belongs to Christ. Fourteen years ago he was taken up to the highest heaven. (I do not know if his body was taken up or just his spirit. Only God knows.)

3 y sé que ese hombre (sólo Dios sabe si esto ocurrió físicamente o no),

I say it again, I know this man was taken up. But I do not know if his body or just his spirit was taken up. Only God knows.

4 f ue arrebatado al paraíso, donde oyó palabras inefables que a ningún hombre se le permite pronunciar.

When he was in the highest heaven, he heard things that cannot be told with words. No man is allowed to tell them.

5 D e ese hombre puedo jactarme; pero de mí mismo, sólo me jactaré de mis debilidades.

I will be proud about this man, but I will not be proud about myself except to say things which show how weak I am.

6 S in embargo, no sería insensato de mi parte el querer jactarme, porque estaría diciendo la verdad; pero prefiero no hacerlo, para que nadie piense de mí más de lo que ve u oye de mí.

Even if I talk about myself, I would not be a fool because it is the truth. But I will say no more because I want no one to think better of me than he does when he sees or hears me.

7 Y para que no me exaltara demasiado por la grandeza de las revelaciones, se me clavó un aguijón en el cuerpo, un mensajero de Satanás, para que me abofetee y no deje que yo me enaltezca.

The things God showed me were so great. But to keep me from being too full of pride because of seeing these things, I have been given trouble in my body. It was sent from Satan to hurt me. It keeps me from being proud.

8 T res veces le he rogado al Señor que me lo quite,

I asked the Lord three times to take it away from me.

9 p ero él me ha dicho: «Con mi gracia tienes más que suficiente, porque mi poder se perfecciona en la debilidad.» Por eso, con mucho gusto habré de jactarme en mis debilidades, para que el poder de Cristo repose en mí.

He answered me, “I am all you need. I give you My loving-favor. My power works best in weak people.” I am happy to be weak and have troubles so I can have Christ’s power in me.

10 P or eso, por amor a Cristo me gozo en las debilidades, en las afrentas, en las necesidades, en las persecuciones y en las angustias; porque mi debilidad es mi fuerza.

I receive joy when I am weak. I receive joy when people talk against me and make it hard for me and try to hurt me and make trouble for me. I receive joy when all these things come to me because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

11 A l jactarme, me he portado como un necio; pero ustedes me han obligado a hacerlo así. Aunque no soy nadie, yo debía haber sido alabado por ustedes, ya que en nada he sido menos que esos grandes apóstoles.

I have been making a fool of myself talking like this. But you made me do it. You should be telling what I have done. Even if I am nothing at all, I am not less important than those false missionaries of yours.

12 C on todo, las señales de apóstol se han realizado entre ustedes con toda paciencia, por medio de señales, prodigios y milagros.

When I was with you, I proved to you that I was a true missionary. I did powerful works and there were special things to see. These things were done in the strength and power from God.

13 ¿ En qué han sido ustedes menos que las otras iglesias, sino en que yo mismo nunca les he sido una carga? ¡Perdónenme este agravio! Pablo anuncia su tercera visita

What makes you feel less important than the other churches? Is it because I did not let you give me food and clothing? Forgive me for this wrong!

14 Y a estoy dispuesto a visitarlos por tercera vez, y tampoco esta vez les seré una carga, porque no ando tras lo que es de ustedes, sino tras de ustedes mismos. No son los hijos los que deben juntar tesoros para los padres; son los padres los que deben juntar tesoros para los hijos.

This is the third time I am ready to come to you. I want nothing from you. I want you, not your money. You are my children. Children should not have to help care for their parents. Parents should help their children.

15 P or amor a ustedes, yo con gran placer gastaré lo mío, y aun yo mismo me gastaré del todo, aun si mientras más los ame, menos amado sea yo.

I am glad to give anything I have, even myself, to help you. When I love you more, it looks as if you love me less.

16 P ero admitamos esto: yo no he sido una carga para ustedes, sino que como soy astuto, los atrapé con engaños.

It is true that I was not a heavy load to you. But some say I set a trap for you.

17 ¿ Acaso los engañé mediante alguno de los que he enviado a ustedes?

How could I have done that? Did I get anything from you through the men I sent to you?

18 R ogué a Tito que los visitara, y con él envié al hermano. ¿Acaso Tito los engañó? ¿Qué, no hemos actuado con el mismo espíritu y de la misma manera?

I asked Titus and the other Christian brother to visit you. Did Titus get anything from you? Did we not do things that showed we had the same desires and followed the same plan?

19 ¿ Todavía creen que nos estamos disculpando con ustedes? Cuando hablamos, lo hacemos delante de Dios en Cristo; y todo esto, amados míos, para la edificación de ustedes.

It may look to you as if we had been trying to make everything look right for ourselves all this time. God knows and so does Christ that all this is done to help you.

20 M ucho me temo que, cuando llegue, no los encuentre como quisiera encontrarlos, y que tampoco ustedes me encuentren así. Me temo que entre ustedes hay pleitos, envidias, enojos, divisiones, calumnias, chismes, insolencias y desórdenes.

I am afraid that when I visit you I will not find you as I would like you to be. And you will not find me as you would like me to be. I am afraid I will find you fighting and jealous and angry and arguing and talking about each other and thinking of yourselves as being too important and making trouble.

21 T ambién me temo que, cuando vuelva, Dios me humille ante ustedes, y que tal vez tenga que llorar por muchos de los que antes han pecado y no se han arrepentido de la inmundicia, ni de la inmoralidad sexual y el libertinaje a que se han entregado.

I am afraid when I get there God will take all the pride away from me that I had for you. I will not be happy about many who have lived in sin and done sex sins and have had a desire for such things and have not been sorry for their sins and turned from them.