Poul, apostle of Jhesu Crist, bi the wille of God, and Tymothe, brothir, to the chirche of God that is at Corinthi, with alle seyntis that ben in al Acaye, grace to ȝou, and pees of God oure fadir, and of the Lord Jhesu Crist. Blessid be God and fadir of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, fadir of mercies, and God of al comfort, or solace, that comfortith vs in al oure tribulacioun, that and we mown comforte hem, that ben in al pressure, or ouerleyinge, by the exortacioun, or monestynge, by which and we ben monestid of God. For as the passiouns of Crist ben plenteuous in vs, so and by Crist oure coumfort is plenteuous. Forsoth wher we ben trowblid, or pursuwed, for ȝoure techinge and helthe, ethir we ben comfortid, for ȝoure comfort, ethir we ben monestid, for ȝoure monestinge and heelthe. The which worchith in ȝou the suffryng of the same passiouns, the whiche and we suffren, that oure hope be sadd for ȝou; witynge for as ȝe ben felowis of passiouns, so ȝe schulen be and of comfort. Forsothe, britheren, we wolen not ȝou for to vnwite of oure tribulacioun, that is don in Asye; for ouer maner we ben greuyd aboue vertu, or myȝte, so that it anoyȝede vs, ȝhe, for to lyue. But we silf in vs silf hadden answere of deeth, that we be not tristinge in vs silf, but in God that reysith deede men. The which delyuerede vs, and delyuereth fro so greet perelis, in to whom we hopen, for and ȝit he schal delyuere, helpynge and ȝou in prayere for vs; that of the persoones of manye faces of that ȝyuynge that is in ȝou, by manye parceneris, graces, or thankyngis, ben don to God for vs. Forwhi oure glorie is this, the witnessinge of oure conscience, that in symplenesse and clennesse of God, and not in fleischly wysdom, but in the grace of God, we lyuen in this world, forsoth more plenteuously to ȝou. Sothli we wryten not othere thingis, than tho that ȝe han rad and knowen, forsoth I hope that til to the ende ȝe schulen knowe, as and ȝe han knowen vs of party; for we ben ȝoure glorie, and ȝe oure in the day of oure Lord Jhesu Crist. And in this tristnynge I wolde firste come to ȝou, that ȝe hadden the secunde grace, and that I schulde by ȝou passe in to Macedonye, and eft fro Macedonye I schulde come to ȝou, and of ȝou be ledd in to Judee. Forsoth whanne I wolde this thing, wher I vside liȝtnesse, or tho thingis that I thenke, I thenke aftir the fleisch, that at me be, is and not, or ȝhe and nay? Forsoth God is trewe, for oure word the which was at ȝou, ther is not in it is and nay, but in it is is, that is, treuthe. Sotheli Jhesus Crist, the sone of God, the which is prechid in ȝou by vs, by me, and Syluan, and Tymothe, ther was not in him is and nay, but in hym is was, that is, stedefast treuthe. Forsoth how many euere ben biheestis of God, in him is, that is, ben fulfillid. Therefore and by him we seyn amen to God, to oure ioye. The which sothli confermeth vs with ȝou in Crist, and the which God anoyntide vs, and that markide vs, and ȝaf a wed, or eernes, of the spirit in oure hertis. Forsoth I inclepe God witnesse in to my soule, that I sparinge ȝou cam not ouer Corinthe; not for we ben lordis of ȝoure feith, but we ben helperis of ȝoure ioye; forwhi thorw bileue ȝe stonden.
Forsoth I ordeynede this ilke thing at me, that I schulde not come eftsoone in to sorwe to ȝou. Sothli if I make ȝou sori, or heuy, and who is he that gladdith me, no but he that is sorowful of me? And this same thing I wroot to ȝou, that whanne I schal come, I haue not sorwe vp sorwe, of hem of the whiche it bihofte me for to ioye. Tristynge in ȝou alle, for my ioye is of ȝou alle. For whi of moche tribulacioun and angwische of herte I wroot to ȝou by manye teeris, that ȝe be not sori, but that ȝe wite what charite I haue more plenteuously in ȝou. Forsoth if ony man hath maad me sorwful, he hath not maad me sorwful but in party, that I charge, or diseese, not ȝou alle. This blamynge that is maad of many, sufficith to him, that is such maner man; so that aȝenward ȝe ȝyue more and comforte, lest perauenture he that is such maner man, be sopun vp, or dispeire, by more greet heuynesse. For which thing I biseche ȝou, that ȝe conferme charite in to him. Forsoth therfore and I wroot, that I knowe ȝoure asayinge, wher in alle thingis ȝe ben obedyent. Forsoth to whom ȝe han ony thing ȝouen, and I haue forȝeuen. Forwhi and I that I ȝaf, if I ony thing ȝaf, haue ȝouun for ȝou in the persoone of Crist, that we be not disseyued of Sathanas; sothli we vnknowen not his thouȝtis. Forsoth whanne I hadde comen to Trowade for the gospel of Crist, and a dore was openyd to me in the Lord, I hadde not reste to my spirit, for that I fond not my brothir Tite, but I seyinge to hem far wel, passide into Macedonye. Therfor thankingis to God, that euermore makith vs to haue victorie in Crist Jhesu, and schewith by vs the odour of his knowynge in ech place; for we ben the good odour, or sauour, of Crist to God, in thes that ben maad saaf, and in thes that perischen. To othere sothli odour of deeth in to deeth, to othere forsoth odour of lyf into lyf. And to thes thingis who so able? Sothli we ben not as ful manye, auoutrynge the word of God, but of clennesse, but as of God, bifore God in Crist we speken.
Bigynne we eftsoone for to comende, or preise, vs silf? or wher we neden, as summe, preisynge lettris to ȝou, or of ȝou? Ȝe ben oure pistle, writun in ȝoure hertis, the which is kowd and radd of alle men; ȝe maad opyn, for ȝe ben the pistle of Crist mynistrid of vs, and writun, not with enke, but by the spirit of quyk God; not in stoony tablis, but in fleischly tablis of herte. Forsoth we han such trist by Crist to God; not that we ben sufficient for to thenke ony thing of vs, as of vs, but oure sufficience is of God. The which and made vs able mynistris of the newe testament, not bi lettre, but by spirit; for the lettre sleith, forsoth the spirit quykeneth. For if the mynistracioun of deeth defformyd by lettris in stoones was in glorie, so that the children of Israel myȝten not biholde in to the face of Moyses, for the glorie of his cheere, the which glorie is auoydid, hou not more the mynistracioun of spirit schal be in glorie? Forwhi if the mynistracioun of dampnacioun is in glorie, moche more the mynisterie, or seruynge, of riȝtwysnesse is plenteuous in glorie. Forwhi nether that that was cleer in this part, was glorified for excellent glorie; sothly if that that is auoydid, is bi glorie, moche more that that dwellith is in glorie. Therfore we hauynge such hope, vsen moche trist; and not as Moyses puttide a veyl on his face, that the children of Israel schulde not byholde in to his face, the which veyl is auoydid. But the wittis of hem ben astoneyed; sothli til in to this day the same veyl in redinge of the oolde testament dwellith not schewid, for in Crist it is auoydid, but til in to this day, whanne Moyses is radd, the veyl is putt vpon her hertis. Forsoth whanne Israel schal be conuertid to God, the veyl schal be don awey. Forsoth the Lord is spirit; forsoth where is the spirit of God, there is liberte. Forsoth alle we with schewid face biholdinge the glorie of the Lord, ben transformyd into the same ymage, fro clerenesse into clerenesse, as of the spirit of the Lord.
Therfore we hauynge this administracioun, or office, vp which we han getun mercy, faylen not, but don a wey the priuey thingis of schame, not walkynge in sutil gyle, nether auoutrynge the word of God, but in schewinge of treuthe comendinge vs silf to ech conscience of men bifore God. For if also oure gospel is keuerid, or hid, in these that perischen it is keuerid; in whiche the god of this world hath blyndid the soules of men out of the bileue, or vnfeithful men, that the liȝtnynge of the gospel of the glorie of Crist, that is the ymage of God inuysible, schyne not. Sothli we prechen not vs silf, but Jhesu Crist oure Lord; forsothe vs ȝoure seruauntis by Jhesu. For God, that seide the lyȝt for to schyne of derknessis, he hath ynliȝtid in oure hertis, to the illumynynge of the science of the cleernesse of God, into the face of Jhesu Crist. Forsothe we han this tresour in brotil vesselis, that the hiȝnesse be of Goddis vertu, and not of vs. In alle thingis we suffren tribulacioun, but we ben not maad streit; we ben maad pore, but we ben not distroyed; we suffren persecucioun, but we ben not forsaken; we ben maad lowe, but we ben not confoundid; we ben cast down, but we perischen not; euermore beringe aboute the mortifyinge of Jhesu Crist in oure body, that and the lyf of Jhesu be schewid in oure bodies. Sothli euermore we that lyuen, ben takun in to deeth for Jhesu, that and the lyf of Jhesu be schewid in oure deedly fleisch. Therfore deeth worchith in vs, lyf sothli in ȝou. Forsoth hauynge the same spirit of feith, as it is writun, I haue bileued, for which thing I spak; and we bileuen, for which thing and we speken; witynge for he that reiside Jhesu, schal reise and vs with Jhesu, and schal ordeyne vs with ȝou. Sothli alle thingis for ȝou, that grace beynge plenteuous by manye in doynge of thankingis be plenteuous into glorie of God. For which thing we faylen not, but thouȝ the ilke that is withouteforth, oure man be coruptid; nethelees that man that is withinne forth, is renewid, or maad newe aȝen, fro day into day. Forsoth that that is in present, or now, a litil moment lastynge, and liȝt, or esy, thing of oure tribulacioun, worchith ouer manere, or mesure, into hiȝnesse the euerelasting weiȝte of glorie in vs, vs not biholdynge tho thingis that ben seyn, but tho that ben not seyn. Sothli tho thingis that ben seyn, ben temperal, or durynge by short tyme; forsothe tho thingis that ben not seyn, ben euerlastinge, or withouten ende.
Sotheli we witen, for if oure erthely hous of this dwellyng be dissolued, that we han a bildyng of God, an hous not maad by hondis, euerlastinge in heuenes. Forwhi and in this thing we mornen, coueitynge for to be clothid aboue oure dwellinge of heuene; if netheles we ben founden clothid, and not nakid. Forwhi and we that ben in this tabernacle, sorwen with inneforth greuyd, for that we wolen not be dispoylid, but be clothid aboue; that the ilke thing that is deedli, be sopun vp of lyf. Forsothe he that makith vs into this thing, is God, that ȝaf to vs a wedd, or eernes, of spirit. Therfore we beynge hardy alle gatis, and witinge for the whyle we ben in this body, we gon in pilgrymage fro the Lord; forsoth we walken by feith, and not by cleer siȝte. Forsoth we ben hardy, and han good wille, more for to be in pilgrymage fro the body, and for to be present to God. And therfore we stryuen, whether absent, whethir present, for to plese hym. Forsothe it byhoueth vs alle for to be schewid bifore the trone of Crist, that euery man resceyue, or telle aȝen, the propre thingis of body, as he hath don, ether good, ethir yuel. Therfore we witynge the drede of the Lord, softly mouen, or counceilen, to men, forsoth to God we ben opyn; sothly I hope, and in ȝoure consciencis vs for to be knowun. We comenden not vs silf eftsoone to ȝou, but we ȝyuen to ȝou occacioun for to glorie for vs, that ȝe haue to hem that glorien in the face, and not in the herte. Sothli wher we by mynde, or resoun, passen to God, wher we ben sobre to ȝou? Sothli the charite of Crist dryueth vs; gessinge, or demynge, this thing, for if oon is deed for alle, therfore alle ben deede. And Crist deyde for alle, that and thei that lyuen, lyue not now to hem silf, but to him that deyede for hem, and roos aȝen. And so we fro this tyme han knowe no man vp the fleisch; and if we knowen Crist vp the fleisch, but riȝt now we han not knowen. Therfore if ony newe creature is in Crist, oolde thingis han passid, and lo! alle thingis ben maad newe. Forsothe alle thingis of God, the which reconcilede, or acordide, vs to him by Crist, and ȝaf to vs the mynisterie, or seruyse, of reconcilinge. Sothli for God was in Crist, reconcilynge to him the world, not rettinge to hem her giltis, and puttide in vs the word of reconcilinge. Therfore we ben sett in legacie, or message, for Crist, as God monestinge by vs; we bisechen ȝou for Crist, be ȝe reconcilid to God. God the fadir made him the synne for vs, that is, redempcioun, or sacrifice for synne, the which knew not synne, that we schulde be maad riȝtwysnesse of God in hym.
Forsothe we helpinge monestyn, that ȝe resceyuen not the grace of God in veyn. Sothli he seith, In tyme accept, or wel plesynge, I haue herd thee, and in the day of helthe I haue helpid thee. Lo! now a tyme acceptable, lo! now a day of heelthe. To no man ȝyuynge ony offencioun, or hurtynge, that oure mynisterie, or seruyse, be not reprouyd; but in alle thingis ȝyue we vs silf as mynistris of God, in moche pacience, in tribulaciouns, and in nedis, in angwischis, in betyngis, or scorgingis, in prisouns, in dissenciouns with ynne forth, in trauelis, in wakyngis, in fastingis, in chastite, in science, or kunnynge, in long abydinge, in swetnesse, in the Hooly Goost, in charite not feyned, in the word of treuthe, in the vertu of God; by armers of riȝtwysnesse on the riȝt half and left half; by glorie and vnnobley; by yuel fame and good fame; as disseyueris, and trewe men; as thei that ben vnknowen, and knowun; as men deyinge, and lo! we lyuen; as chastisid, and not maad deed; as sorowful, forsoth euermore ioyinge; as hauynge nede, or as nedy men, sothly makynge manye riche; as no thing hauynge, and weldinge alle thingis. A! ȝe Corynthis, oure mouth is opyn to ȝou, oure herte is alargid; be ȝe not maad streit in vs, but be ȝe maad streit in ȝoure entrailis. Forsothe we hauynge the same reward, I seye as to sones, and be ȝe alargid. Nyle ȝe lede ȝok with vnfeithful men. Sothli what partynge, or comunynge, of riȝtwysnesse with wickidnesse? or what felowschip of liȝt to derknessis? sothli what acordinge of Crist to Belial? or what part of a feithful, or cristen man, with vnfeithful, or hethene? but what consent to the temple of God with ydols? Forsoth ȝe ben the temple of quyk God, as the Lord seith, For I schal dwelle in hem, and I schal walken in; and I schal be the God of hem, and thei schulen be to me a peple. For which thing go ȝe out of the myddel of hem, and be ȝe departid, seith the Lord, and touche ȝe not vnclene thing; and I schal resceyue ȝou, and I schal be to ȝou in to a fadir, and ȝe schulen be to me into sones and douȝtris, seith the Lord almyȝti.
Therfore, moost dereworthe britheren, we hauynge thes ȝiftis, clense vs fro alle filthe of fleisch and spirit, perfytli makynge halowynge in the drede of the Lord. Take ȝe vs; we han hurt no man, we han corupt no man, we han bigylid no man. I seye not for ȝoure condempnynge; forsoth I seide bifore, that ȝe ben in oure hertis, for to deie to gidere, and lyue to gidere. Moche trist is to me anentis ȝou, moche gloriynge is to me for ȝou. I am fulfillid with comfort, I abounde, or am plenteuous, in ioye in al oure tribulacioun. Forwhi and whanne we hadden comen to Macedonye, oure fleisch hadde no reste, but we suffriden al tribulacioun; forsoth withouteforth, fiȝtingis, with ynneforth, dredis. But he that comfortith meeke men, God comfortide vs in the comynge of Tyte. Forsoth not oonli in the comynge of him, but also in the comfort by which he comfortide me in ȝou, tellinge to vs ȝoure desyr, ȝoure wepinge, ȝoure loue for me, so that I ioyede more. For and if I made ȝou sori in a pistle, now it rewith me not; and if it rewide, I seynge that thouȝ I made ȝou sory in that pistle at an hour, now haue I ioye; not for ȝe weren maad sorowful, but for ȝe weren maad sorowful to penaunce. Sothli ȝe ben maad sory aftir God, that in no thing ȝe suffre peirement of vs. Forsoth that sorwe that is aftir God, worchith penaunce in to stedefast heelthe; forsoth sorwe of the world worchith deeth. Lo! sotheli this same thing, ȝou for to be sorowful aftir God, how moche bisynesse it worchith in ȝou; but defending, but indignacioun, but drede, but desyr, but loue, but veniaunce. In alle thingis ȝe han ȝouun ȝou silf for to be vndefoulid in cause, or nede. Therfore and if I wroot to ȝou, not for him that dide iniurie, nether for him that suffride, but for to schewe oure bysynesse, the which we han for ȝou bifore God. Therfore we ben comfortid, forsothe in oure comfort more plenteuously we ioyeden more on the ioye of Tyte, for his spirit is fulfillid of alle ȝou. And if I gloriede ony thing anentis him of ȝou, I am not confoundid, or schamyd; but as we han spokun to ȝou alle thingis in treuthe, so and oure glorie that was at Tyte, is maad treuthe. And the entraylis of him ben more plenteuously in ȝou, of him hauynge in mynde the obedience of ȝou alle, how with drede and tremblinge ȝe resseyueden him. I haue ioye, that in alle thingis I triste in ȝou.
Britheren, forsothe we maken knowe to ȝou the grace of God, that is ȝouun in the chirchis of Macedonye, and that in moche asayinge of tribulacioun, the haboundaunce, or plente, of the ioye of hem was, and the hiȝeste pouert of hem was plenteuous into the richessis of the symplenesse of hem. For I bere witnessinge and to hem, vp vertu, or power, and aboue vertu thei weren wilful, with moche monestynge bisechinge vs the grace and comenynge of mynysterie, that is maad in to hooly men. And not as we hopiden, but thei ȝauen hem silf first to the Lord, aftirward to vs by the wille of God. So that we preieden Tyte, that as he bigan, so and he perfoorme in ȝou also this grace. But as ȝe abounden in alle thingis, in feith, word, and science, or kunnynge, and al bisynesse, moreouer and in ȝoure charite in to vs, that and in this grace ȝe habounde. I seie not as comaundinge, but by the bisynesse of othere men also prouynge to gidere the good wit of ȝoure charite. Sothli ȝe witen the grace of oure Lord Jhesu Christ, forwhi he was made nedy for vs, whanne he was ryche, that ȝe schulden be maad ryche by his myseste, or nedynesse. And I ȝyue counceil in this thing; sothli this is profitable to ȝou, that not oonly bigynnen for to do, but and for to wilne fro the formere ȝeer. Now forsothe and in dede performe ȝe, that as the ynwitt of wil is redy, so be it and of performynge of that thing that ȝe han. Sothli if the wille be redy, it is acceptid vp that that it hath, not vp that that it hath not. Forsoth not that it be remyssioun, or slouthe, to othere, forsoth to ȝou tribulacioun; but of euenesse, in the present tyme ȝoure haboundaunce fulfille the myseste of hem, that and the haboundaunce of hem be supplement, or fulfillinge, of ȝoure myseste, that euenesse be maad; as it is writun, He that hath moche, haboundide not, and he that litil, hadde not lasse. Forsoth I do thankyngis to God, that ȝaf the same bysynesse for ȝou in the herte of Tyte, for sotheli he resceyuede exortacioun, or monestynge; but whanne he was bisyere, with his wille he wente forth to ȝou. Forsoth we senten with hym oure brother, whos preisynge is in the gospel by alle chirchis. Forsoth not oonly, but and he is ordeyned of chirchis the felowe of oure pilgrymage into this grace, that is mynystrid of vs to the glorie of the Lord, and to oure ordeyned wille; eschewinge this thing, that no man blame, or dispise, vs in this plente, that is mynystrid of vs to the glorie of the Lord. Sothli we purueyen goode thingis, not oonly bifore God, but also bifore alle men. Forsoth we senten with hem and oure brother, whom we han prouyd in manye thingis ofte, for to be bisy, now forsoth moche bisyer, in moche trist in ȝou, ethir for Tyte, that is my felowe, and in ȝou helpere, ether oure britheren, apostlis of chirchis of the glorie of Crist. Therfor schewe ȝe in to the faces of chirchis, the schewynge that is of ȝoure charite and of oure glorie for ȝou into hem.
Forwhi of the mynysterie that is maad into hooly men, it is to me of haboundaunt, or plente, for to wryte to ȝou. Forsoth I woot ȝoure ynwitt redy, for the which I haue glorie of ȝou anentis Macedonyes, for and Acaye is redi fro a ȝeer passid, and ȝoure loue hath stirid ful manye. Forsoth we han sent britheren, that that thing that we glorien in ȝou, be not auoydid in this partie, that as I seyde, ȝe be redy. Lest when Macedonyes schulen come with me, and schulen fynde ȝou vnredy, we schamen, that we seye ȝou not, in this substaunce. Therfore I gesside necessarie for to praye britheren, that thei come bifore to ȝou, and make redy this bihiȝt blessynge for to be redy, so as blessinge, not as auarice. This thing forsothe I seye, for he that sowith scarsly, schal and scarsly repe; and he that sowith in blessingis, schal repe and of blessyngis. Ech man as he castide in his herte, not of heuynesse, or of nede; forsoth God loueth a glad ȝyuere. Forsothe God is myȝty for to make al grace abounde in ȝou, that ȝe in alle thingis euermore hauynge al sufficience, abounde in to al good work; as it is writun, He delide a brood, he ȝaf to pore men, his riȝtwisnesse dwellith into withouten ende. Forsoth he that mynistrith seed to the man sowynge, and schal ȝyue breed for to ete, and he schal multiplie ȝoure seed, and make moche the encresyngis of fruytis of ȝoure riȝtwysnesse; that in alle thingis ȝe maad ryche habounde in to alle symplenesse, the which worchith by vs doynge of thankyngis to God. For the mynisterie of this office not oonly fillith tho thingis that faylen to hooly men, but also aboundith by manye in doynge of thankingis to the Lord, by prouynge of this mynysterie, glorifiynge God in the obedience of ȝoure knowleching in the gospel of Crist, and in symplenesse of comynycacioun into hem and into alle, and in the bisechinge of hem for ȝou, desyringe ȝou for the clere grace in ȝou. I do thankingis to God vpon the vnenarrable, or that may not be told, ȝifte of hym.
Forsoth I Poul biseche ȝou, by the homlynesse, or myldenesse, and softenesse, or pacience, of Crist, the which sothely in the face am meek among ȝou, forsoth I absent triste in ȝou. Forsothe, britheren, I preie ȝou, that I present be not hardy by the ilke trist, in which I am gessid for to be hardy in to summe, the whiche deme vs, as we wandren vp the fleisch. Forsoth we walkynge in fleisch, fiȝten not, or holden not knyȝthod, vp the fleisch. Forwhi the armers of oure knyȝthod ben not fleischly, but myȝty to God to the destruccioun of wardingis, or strengthis; we distroyinge counceils, and al hiȝnesse reysinge him aȝens the science of God, and dryuynge into caytifte al vndirstondinge into the seruyse of Crist; also hauynge in redynesse for to venge al vnobedience, whanne ȝoure obedience schal be fulfillid. Se ȝe the thingis that ben vpon the face. If ony man tristith to him silf, him for to be of Crist, thenke he this thing eft anentis himsilf, for as he is Cristis, so and we. Forwhi and if I schal glorie ony thing more of oure power, the which the Lord ȝaf to vs into edifyinge, and not into ȝoure distruccioun, I schal not schame. Forsothe that I be not gessid as for to feere ȝou by epistlis, forwhi thei seyn, The epistlis ben heuye, or greuouse, and strong, but the presence of body sijk, and the word contemptible, or worthi for to be dispysid. He that is such maner man, thenke this, for what maner men we ben absent by epistlis, suche maner men vs present in dede. Sothli we doren not putte vs among, or comparisowne vs to summe, that comenden hem silf; but we metinge, or mesuringe, vs in vs silf, and comparisownynge vs silf to vs, sothli we schulden not glorie into ful moche, but vp the mesure of reule, bi which God mesuride to vs, the mesure of strecchinge til to ȝou. Forsoth not as we not strecchinge to ȝou, ouerholden vs. Forsoth til to ȝou we camen in the gospel of Crist, not gloryinge into ful moche in othere mennis trauelis. Sothly we hauynge hope of ȝoure feith waxynge in ȝou for to be magnyfied vp oure reule in haboundaunce, also for to preche into tho thingis that ben byȝondes ȝou, not for to glorie in othir mennis reule, in thes thingis that ben maad redy. Forsothe he that glorieth, glorie in the Lord. Forsoth not he that comendith him silf is proued, but whom God comendith, or preisith.
I wolde ȝe schulden susteyne a litil thing of myn vnwysdom, but and supporte me, or bere vp me. Sothly I loue ȝou by the loue of God; sothli I haue bihiȝt, or bicome borwe, for to ȝyue ȝou a chast virgyne to a man, Crist. Forsoth I drede, lest as the serpent disceyuede Eue with his sutil wordis, so ȝoure wittis ben corupt, and falle doun fro the symplenesse that is in Crist. Forwhi if he that cometh, prechith anothir Crist, whom we prechen not, or if ȝe taken anothir spirit, whom ȝe resseyueden not, or anothir gospel, the which ȝe resceyueden not, riȝtly ȝe schulden suffre. Sothli I wene for to haue don no thing lasse fro the greete apostlis. Forwhi thouȝ I be vnlerned in sermoun, or word, but not in science, or kunnyng. Forsoth in alle thingis I am schewid, or maad knowe, to ȝou. Or whethir I haue do synne, mekynge, or makinge lowȝ, my silf, that ȝe ben enhaunsid, for freely I euangeliside to ȝou the euangelie of God? I spoilide, or made nakide, or took ȝiftis, of othir chirchis, takynge soude to ȝoure seruyse. And whenne I was anentis ȝou, and nedide, I was chargeous to no man; forwhi britheren that camen fro Macedonye, supplieden, or fulfilden, that that failide to me. And in alle thingis I haue kept, and schal kepe me withoute charge to ȝou. The treuthe of Crist is in me; for this glorie schal not be brokun in me, in the regiouns, or kuntrees, of Achaye. Whi? for I loue not ȝou? God woot. For that that I do, and I schal do, that I kitte awey the occasioun of hem, that wolen occasioun, or plente, or power, that in the thing, in which thei glorien, thei be founde suche as and we. Forwhi suche false apostlis ben trecherous, or gylous, work men, transfiguringe hem into apostlis. And not wondir; sothli he Sathanas transfygurith him into an aungel of lyȝt. Therfor it is not greet, if his mynistris ben transfigurid as the mynistris of riȝtwysnesse, whos ende schal be aftir hir workis. Eft I seye, lest ony man deme me vnwyse; ellis take ȝe me vnwyse, that and I haue glorie a litil what. That that I speke, I speke not vp God, but as into vnwysdom, in this substaunce of glorie. Forwhi many men glorien vp the fleisch, and I schal glorie. Forsoth ȝe suffren gladly vnwyse men, whanne ȝe silf ben wyse. Sothli ȝe susteynen, if ony man dryue ȝou into seruage, if ony man deuourith, if ony man takith, if ony man is enhaunsid bi pride, if ony man smytith ȝou into face. Vp vnnobley, I seye, as we weren syke in this partye. In what thing ony man dar, in vnwysdom I seie, and I dar. Thei ben Ebrewis, and I; thei ben Ysraelitis, and I; thei ben the seed of Abraham, and I; thei ben the mynistris of Crist, and I. As lasse wys I seye, I more; in ful manye trauels, in prisouns more plenteuously, in woundis aboue manere, or ouer mesure, in deethis ofte tymes. I resceyuede of the Jewis fyue sythis fourty strokis oon lesse; thries I was betun with ȝerdis, onys I was stoonyd, thryes Y maad perisching in schip, nyȝt and day I was in depnesse of the see; in weies ofte, in perelis of flodis, in perels of theues, in perelis of kyn, in perels of hethen men, in perels in cite, in perels in desert, in perels in see, in perels in false britheren, in traueil and myseste, in many wakyngis, in hungir and thirst, in many fastingis, in cold and in nakidnesse. Withoute tho thingis that ben withouteforth; myn eche dayes wakynge, or studyinge, the bisynesse of alle chirchis. Who is syk, and I am not syk? who is sclaundrid, and I am not brend? If it bihoueth for to glorie, I schal glorie in tho thingis that ben of myn infirmyte, or freelte. God and the fadir of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, that is blessid into the worldis, woot, that I gabbe not, or lyie not. The prouost, or kepere, of Damaske, of the king of the folk Arethe, kepte the cite of Damascenys for to take me; and by a wyndow in a leep I was latun down by the wal, and so I scapide his hondis.
If it bihoueth for to glorie, sothli it spedith not; forsoth I schal come to the visyouns and reuelaciouns of the Lord. I woot a man in Crist bifore fourtene ȝeer; wher in body, wher out of body, I woot not, God woot; sich a man rauyschid til to the thridde heuene. And I woot such a man; wher in body, or out of body, I noot, God woot; for he was rauyschid into paradys, and herde priuey wordes, the whiche it is not leefful to a man for to speke. For sich maner thing I schal glorie; forsothe for me no thing, no but in myn infirmitees. Forwhi and if I schal wilne for to glorie, I schal not be vnwys; sothli I schal seye treuthe; forsoth I spare, lest ony man gesse me ouer that thing that he seeth in me, or heerith ony thing of me. And lest the greetnesse of reuelaciouns enhaunce me in pride, the pricke of fleisch, an aungel of Sathanas, is ȝouun to me, the which boffatith me. For which thing thries I preide the Lord, that it schuld go awey fro me. And he seide to me, My grace sufficith to thee; forwhi vertu is perfitly maad in infirmite. Therfore gladly I schal glorie in myn infirmytees, that the vertu of Crist dwelle in me. For which thing I plese to me in myn infirmitees, in wrong dispisyngis, or reprouyngis, in nedis, in persecuciouns, in angwyschis, for Crist; sothli whanne I am syk, thanne I am myȝty. I am maad vnwitty, ȝe constreyneden me. Forsoth I schulde, or owȝte, for to be comendid of ȝou; sothli I dide no thing lesse fro hem that ben apostlis aboue manere. Forwhi thouȝ I be nouȝt, nethelees the sygnes of myn apostilhed ben maad on ȝou, in al pacience, and singnes, or miraclis, and grete wondris, and vertues. Sothli what is it, that ȝe hadden lasse bifore othere chirchis, no but that I my silf greuyde ȝou not? Forȝyue ȝe to me this wrong. Loo! this thridde tyme I am redy for to come to ȝou, and I schal not be greuous to ȝou; forsothe I seke not tho thingis that ben ȝoure, but ȝou. Forsoth nethir sones owen to tresoure, or make tresour, to fadir and modir, but the fadir and modir to the sones. Forsoth I moost wilfully schal ȝyue, and I my silf schal be ouerȝouun for ȝoure soulis; thouȝ I more louynge, be lesse loued. But be it; I greuyd not ȝou, but whanne I was sutil wyse, I took ȝou with gyle. Wher I disceyuede ȝou by ony of hem, the whiche I sente to ȝou? I preiede Tyte, and I sente with him a brothir. Wher Tyte bigylide ȝou? wher we gon not in the same spiryt? wher not in the same steppis? Sum tyme ȝe wenen, that we schulen excuse vs anentis ȝou. Bifore God in Crist we speken; forsothe, moost dere britheren, alle thingis for ȝoure edyfyinge. Sotheli I drede, lest perauenture whanne I schal come, I schal fynde ȝou not which manere I wole, and I schal be founde of ȝow which maner ȝe wolen not; lest perauenture stryuyngis, enuyes, sturdynessis, dissenciouns and detracciouns, priuey spechis of discord, bolnynges bi pride, debatis be among ȝou; lest eftsoone whanne I schal come, God make me louȝ anentis ȝou, and I weyle manye of hem, that bifore synneden, and diden not penaunce of the vnclennesse, and fornycacioun, and vnchastite, that thei han don.
Lo! this thridde tyme I come to ȝou, and in the mouth of tweyne or thre witnessis euery word schal stonde. I seide bifore, and seye bifore, as present twyes, and now absent, to hem that bifore han synned, and to alle othere; for if I schal come eftsoone, I schal not spare. Wher ȝe seken asayinge of him that spekith in me, Crist, the which is not syk in ȝou, but is myȝty in vs? Forwhi thouȝ he was crucified of infirmyte, but he lyueth of the vertu of God. Forwhi and we ben syke in hym, but we schulen lyue with him of the vertu of God in vs. Asaye ȝou silf, if ȝe ben in the feith; ȝe ȝou silf proue. Wher ȝe knowen not ȝou silf, for Crist Jhesu is in ȝou? no but ȝe ben repreuable. Forsoth I hope, that ȝe knowen for we ben not repreuable. Sothely we preien the Lord, that ȝe don no thing of yuel; not that we seme prouyd, but that ȝe do that that is good, forsoth that we be repreuable. Forsothe we mowen no thing aȝens treuthe, but for treuthe. Forsoth we ioyen, for we ben syke, forsoth ȝe ben myȝty; and we preien this thing, ȝoure endinge. Sothli therfore I absent write this thing, that I present do not hardere, vp the power, the which the Lord ȝaf to me into edificacioun, and not into distruccioun. Britheren, hennis forward ioye ȝe, be ȝe perfyt, and teche ȝe; vndirstonde ȝe the same thing; haue ȝe pees, and God of pees and loue schal be with ȝou. Greete ȝe wel to gidere in hooly coss. Alle hooly men greeten ȝou wel. The grace of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, and the charite of God, and the comunynge of the Hooly Gost, be with ȝou alle. Amen.
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