|
[1] For the grace of this thing I Poul, the boundun of Crist Jhesu, for you hethene men,
[2] if netheles ye han herd the dispensacioun of Goddis grace, that is youun to me in you.
[3] For bi reuelacioun the sacrament is maad knowun to me, as Y aboue wroot in schort thing,
[4] as ye moun rede, and vndurstonde my prudence in the mysterie of Crist.
[5] Which was not knowun to othere generaciouns to the sones of men, as it is now schewid to his hooli apostlis and prophetis in the spirit,
[6] that hethene men ben euen eiris, and of oo bodi, and parteneris togidere of his biheest in Crist Jhesu bi the euangelie;
[7] whos mynystre Y am maad, bi the yifte of Goddis grace, which is youun to me bi the worchyng of his vertu.
[8] To me, leeste of alle seyntis, this grace is youun to preche among hethene men the vnserchable richessis of Crist, and to liytne alle men,
[9] which is the dispensacioun of sacrament hid fro worldis in God, that made alle thingis of nouyt;
[10] that the myche fold wisdom of God be knowun to princis and potestatis in heuenli thingis bi the chirche,
[11] bi the bifore ordinaunce of worldis, which he made in Crist Jhesu oure Lord.
[12] In whom we han trist and nyy comyng, in tristenyng bi the feith of hym.
[13] For which thing Y axe, that ye faile not in my tribulaciouns for you, which is youre glorie.
[14] For grace of this thing Y bowe my knees to the fadir of oure Lord Jhesu Crist,
[15] of whom ech fadirhod in heuenes and in erthe is named,
[16] that he yyue to you, aftir the richessis of his glorie, vertu to be strengthid bi his spirit in the ynnere man,
[17] that Crist dwelle bi feith in youre hertis; that ye rootid and groundid in charite,
[18] moun comprehende with alle seyntis, which is the breede, and the lengthe, and the hiynesse, and the depnesse;
[19] also to wite the charite of Crist more excellent than science, that ye be fillid in al the plentee of God.
[20] And to hym that is myyti to do alle thingis more plenteuousli than we axen or vndurstondun, bi the vertu that worchith in vs,
[21] to hym be glorie in the chirche, and in Crist Jhesu, in to alle the generaciouns of the world of worldis. Amen.
|