¹ Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

² For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

³ But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

⁴ For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

⁵ For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

⁶ But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

⁷ Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

⁸ I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

⁹ And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

¹¹ Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

¹² But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

¹⁴ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

¹⁶ I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

¹⁷ That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

¹⁸ Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

¹⁹ For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

²⁰ For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

²¹ I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

²² Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

²³ Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

²⁴ Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

²⁵ Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

²⁶ In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

²⁷ In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

²⁸ Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

³⁰ If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

³¹ The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

³² In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

³³ And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

---

¹ Would to God ^G3785 ye could bear ^G430 with me ^G3450 a little ^G3397 in my folly: ^G877 and ^G2532 indeed ^G235 bear ^G430 with me. ^G3450

² For ^G1063 I am jealous ^G2206 over you ^G5209 with godly ^G2316 jealousy: ^G2205 for ^G1063 I have espoused ^G718 you ^G5209 to one ^G1520 husband, ^G435 that I may present ^G3936 you as a chaste ^G53 virgin ^G3933 to Christ. ^G5547

³ But ^G1161 I fear, ^G5399 lest ^G3381 by any means, ^G4458 as ^G5613 the serpent ^G3789 beguiled ^G1818 Eve ^G2096 through ^G1722 his ^G846 subtilty, ^G3834 so ^G3779 your ^G5216 minds ^G3540 should be corrupted ^G5351 from ^G575 the simplicity ^G572 that is in ^G1519 Christ. ^G5547

⁴ For ^G1063 if ^{G1487 G3303} he that cometh ^G2064 preacheth ^G2784 another ^G243 Jesus, ^G2424 whom ^G3739 we have ^G2784 not ^G3756 preached, ^G2784 or ^G2228 if ye receive ^G2983 another ^G2087 spirit, ^G4151 which ^G3739 ye have ^G2983 not ^G3756 received, ^G2983 or ^G2228 another ^G2087 gospel, ^G2098 which ^G3739 ye have ^G1209 not ^G3756 accepted, ^G1209 ye might ^G430 well ^G2573 bear with ^G430 him.

⁵ For ^G1063 I suppose ^G3049 I was ^G5302 not a whit ^G3367 behind ^G5302 the very ^G5228 chiefest ^G3029 apostles. ^G652

⁶ But ^G1161 though ^G1499 I be rude ^G2399 in speech, ^G3056 yet ^G235 not ^G3756 in knowledge; ^G1108 but ^G235 we have been throughly ^{G1722 G3956} made manifest ^G5319 among ^G1519 you ^G5209 in ^G1722 all things. ^G3956

^{7 G2228} Have I committed ^G4160 an offence ^G266 in abasing ^G5013 myself ^G1683 that ^G2443 ye ^G5210 might be exalted, ^G5312 because ^G3754 I have preached ^G2097 to you ^G5213 the gospel ^G2098 of God ^G2316 freely? ^G1432

⁸ I robbed ^G4813 other ^G243 churches, ^G1577 taking ^G2983 wages ^G3800 of them, to ^G4314 do ^G1248 you ^G5216 service. ^G1248

⁹ And ^G2532 when I was present ^G3918 with ^G4314 you, ^G5209 and ^G2532 wanted, ^G5302 I was ^G3756 chargeable ^G2655 to no man: ^G3762 for ^G1063 that which was lacking ^G5303 to me ^G3450 the brethren ^G80 which came ^G2064 from ^G575 Macedonia ^G3109 supplied: ^G4322 and ^G2532 in ^G1722 all ^G3956 things I have kept ^G5083 myself ^G1683 from being burdensome ^G4 unto you, ^G5213 and ^G2532 so will I keep ^G5083 myself.

¹⁰ As the truth ^G225 of Christ ^G5547 is ^G2076 in ^G1722 me, ^{G1698 G3754} no man ^G3756 shall stop ^{G4972 G5420} me ^{G1519 G1691} of this ^G3778 boasting ^G2746 in ^G1722 the regions ^G2824 of Achaia. ^G882

¹¹ Wherefore? ^G1302 because ^G3754 I love ^G25 you ^G5209 not? ^G3756 God ^G2316 knoweth. ^G1492

¹² But ^G1161 what ^G3739 I do, ^G4160 that ^G2532 I will do, ^G4160 that ^G2443 I may cut off ^G1581 occasion ^G874 from them which desire ^G2309 occasion; ^G874 that ^G2443 wherein ^{G1722 G3739} they glory, ^G2744 they may be found ^G2147 even ^G2532 as ^G2531 we. ^G2249

¹³ For ^G1063 such ^G5108 are false apostles, ^G5570 deceitful ^G1386 workers, ^G2040 transforming themselves ^G3345 into ^G1519 the apostles ^G652 of Christ. ^G5547

¹⁴ And ^G2532 no ^G3756 marvel; ^G2298 for ^G1063 Satan ^G4567 himself ^G846 is transformed ^G3345 into ^G1519 an angel ^G32 of light. ^G5457

¹⁵ Therefore ^G3767 it is no ^G3756 great thing ^G3173 if ^G1499 his ^G846 ministers ^G1249 also ^G1499 be transformed ^G3345 as ^G5613 the ministers ^G1249 of righteousness; ^G1343 whose ^G3739 end ^G5056 shall be ^G2071 according ^G2596 to their ^G846 works. ^G2041

¹⁶ I say ^G3004 again, ^G3825 Let ^G1380 no ^G3361 man ^G5100 think ^G1380 me ^{G1511 G3165} a fool; ^G878 if otherwise, ^G1490 yet ^G2579 as ^G5613 a fool ^G878 receive ^G1209 me, ^G3165 that ^G2443 I ^G2504 may boast myself ^G2744 a ^G5100 little. ^G3397

¹⁷ That which ^G3739 I speak, ^G2980 I speak ^G2980 it not ^G3756 after ^G2596 the Lord, ^G2962 but ^G235 as ^G5613 it were foolishly, ^{G1722 G877} in ^G1722 this ^G5026 confidence ^G5287 of boasting. ^G2746

¹⁸ Seeing that ^G1893 many ^G4183 glory ^G2744 after ^G2596 the flesh, ^G4561 I will glory ^G2744 also. ^G2504

¹⁹ For ^G1063 ye suffer ^G430 fools ^G878 gladly, ^G2234 seeing ye yourselves are ^G5607 wise. ^G5429

²⁰ For ^G1063 ye suffer, ^G430 if a man ^G1536 bring ^G2615 you ^G5209 into bondage, ^G2615 if a man ^G1536 devour ^G2719 you, if a man ^G1536 take ^G2983 of you, if a man ^G1536 exalt himself, ^G1869 if a man ^G1536 smite ^G1194 you ^G5209 on ^G1519 the face. ^G4383

²¹ I speak ^G3004 as concerning ^G2596 reproach, ^G819 as ^G5613 though ^G3754 we ^G2249 had been weak. ^G770 Howbeit ^G1161 whereinsoever ^{G1722 G3739 G302} any ^G5100 is bold, ^G5111 (I speak ^G3004 foolishly,) ^{G1722 G877} I am bold ^G5111 also. ^G2504

²² Are they ^G1526 Hebrews? ^G1445 so am I. ^G2504 Are they ^G1526 Israelites? ^G2475 so am I. ^G2504 Are they ^G1526 the seed ^G4690 of Abraham? ^G11 so am I. ^G2504

²³ Are they ^G1526 ministers ^G1249 of Christ? ^G5547 (I speak ^G2980 as a fool ^G3912 ) I ^G1473 am more; ^G5228 in ^G1722 labours ^G2873 more abundant, ^G4056 in ^G1722 stripes ^G4127 above measure, ^G5234 in ^G1722 prisons ^G5438 more frequent, ^G4056 in ^G1722 deaths ^G2288 oft. ^G4178

²⁴ Of ^G5259 the Jews ^G2453 five times ^G3999 received I ^G2983 forty ^G5062 stripes save ^G3844 one. ^G3391

²⁵ Thrice ^G5151 was I beaten with rods, ^G4463 once ^G530 was I stoned, ^G3034 thrice ^G5151 I suffered shipwreck, ^G3489 a night and a day ^G3574 I have been ^G4160 in ^G1722 the deep; ^G1037

²⁶ In journeyings ^G3597 often, ^G4178 in perils ^G2794 of waters, ^G4215 in perils ^G2794 of robbers, ^G3027 in perils ^G2794 by ^G1537 mine own countrymen, ^G1085 in perils ^G2794 by ^G1537 the heathen, ^G1484 in perils ^G2794 in ^G1722 the city, ^G4172 in perils ^G2794 in ^G1722 the wilderness, ^G2047 in perils ^G2794 in ^G1722 the sea, ^G2281 in perils ^G2794 among ^G1722 false brethren; ^G5569

²⁷ In ^G1722 weariness ^G2873 and ^G2532 painfulness, ^G3449 in ^G1722 watchings ^G70 often, ^G4178 in ^G1722 hunger ^G3042 and ^G2532 thirst, ^G1373 in ^G1722 fastings ^G3521 often, ^G4178 in ^G1722 cold ^G5592 and ^G2532 nakedness. ^G1132

²⁸ Beside ^G5565 those things that are without, ^G3924 that which ^G3588 cometh upon ^G1999 me ^G3450 daily, ^{G2250 G2596} the care ^G3308 of all ^G3956 the churches. ^G1577

²⁹ Who ^G5101 is weak, ^G770 and ^G2532 I am ^G770 not ^G3756 weak? ^G770 who ^G5101 is offended, ^G4624 and ^G2532 I ^G1473 burn ^G4448 not? ^G3756

³⁰ If ^G1487 I must needs ^G1163 glory, ^G2744 I will glory ^G2744 of the things which concern ^G3588 mine ^G3450 infirmities. ^G769

³¹ The God ^G2316 and ^G2532 Father ^G3962 of our ^G2257 Lord ^G2962 Jesus ^G2424 Christ, ^G5547 which ^G3588 is ^G5607 blessed ^G2128 for ^G1519 evermore, ^G165 knoweth ^G1492 that I ^G3754 lie ^G5574 not. ^G3756

³² In ^G1722 Damascus ^G1154 the governor ^G1481 under Aretas ^G702 the king ^G935 kept ^G5432 the city ^G4172 of the Damascenes ^G1153 with a garrison, ^G5432 desirous ^G2309 to apprehend ^G4084 me: ^G3165

³³ And ^G2532 through ^G1223 a window ^G2376 in ^G1722 a basket ^G4553 was I let down ^G5465 by ^G1223 the wall, ^G5038 and ^G2532 escaped ^G1628 his ^G846 hands. ^G5495

---

¹ Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: but indeed ye do bear with me.

² For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you `as' a pure virgin to Christ.

³ But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.

⁴ For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or `if' ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with `him'.

⁵ For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

⁶ But though `I be' rude in speech, yet `am I' not in knowledge; nay, in every way have we made `this' manifest unto you in all things.

⁷ Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought?

⁸ I robbed other churches, taking wages `of them' that I might minister unto you;

⁹ and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and `so' will I keep `myself'.

¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia.

¹¹ Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

¹² But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

¹³ For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.

¹⁴ And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light.

¹⁵ It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.

¹⁶ I say again, let no man think me foolish; but if `ye do', yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little.

¹⁷ That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.

¹⁸ Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

¹⁹ For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise `yourselves'.

²⁰ For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you `captive', if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face.

²¹ I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

²² Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

²³ Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.

²⁴ Of the Jews five times received I forty `stripes' save one.

²⁵ Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep;

²⁶ `in' journeyings often, `in' perils of rivers, `in' perils of robbers, `in' perils from `my' countrymen, `in' perils from the Gentiles, `in' perils in the city, `in' perils in the wilderness, `in' perils in the sea, `in' perils among false brethren;

²⁷ `in' labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

²⁸ Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.

²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is caused to stumble, and I burn not?

³⁰ If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weakness.

³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for evermore knoweth that I lie not.

³² In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to take me:

³³ and through a window was I let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

---

¹ O that ye were bearing with me a little of the folly, but ye also do bear with me:

² for I am zealous for you with zeal of God, for I did betroth you to one husband, a pure virgin, to present to Christ,

³ and I fear, lest, as the serpent did beguile Eve in his subtilty, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that `is' in the Christ;

⁴ for if, indeed, he who is coming doth preach another Jesus whom we did not preach, or another Spirit ye receive which ye did not receive, or other good news which ye did not accept -- well were ye bearing `it',

⁵ for I reckon that I have been nothing behind the very chiefest apostles,

⁶ and even if unlearned in word -- yet not in knowledge, but in every thing we were made manifest in all things to you.

⁷ The sin did I do -- myself humbling that ye might be exalted, because freely the good news of God I did proclaim to you?

⁸ other assemblies I did rob, having taken wages, for your ministration;

⁹ and being present with you, and having been in want, I was chargeable to no one, for my lack did the brethren supply -- having come from Macedonia -- and in everything burdenless to you I did keep myself, and will keep.

¹⁰ The truth of Christ is in me, because this boasting shall not be stopped in regard to me in the regions of Achaia;

¹¹ wherefore? because I do not love you? God hath known!

¹² and what I do, I also will do, that I may cut off the occasion of those wishing an occasion, that in that which they boast they may be found according as we also;

¹³ for those such `are' false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,

¹⁴ and no wonder -- for even the Adversary doth transform himself into a messenger of light;

¹⁵ no great thing, then, if also his ministrants do transform themselves as ministrants of righteousness -- whose end shall be according to their works.

¹⁶ Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if otherwise, even as a fool receive me, that I also a little may boast.

¹⁷ That which I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this the confidence of boasting;

¹⁸ since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast:

¹⁹ for gladly do ye bear with the fools -- being wise,

²⁰ for ye bear, if any one is bringing you under bondage, if any one doth devour, if any one doth take away, if any one doth exalt himself, if any one on the face doth smite you;

²¹ in reference to dishonour I speak, how that we were weak, and in whatever any one is bold -- in foolishness I say `it' -- I also am bold.

²² Hebrews are they? I also! Israelites are they? I also! seed of Abraham are they? I also!

²³ ministrants of Christ are they? -- as beside myself I speak -- I more; in labours more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths many times;

²⁴ from Jews five times forty `stripes' save one I did receive;

²⁵ thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice was I shipwrecked, a night and a day in the deep I have passed;

²⁶ journeyings many times, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from kindred, perils from nations, perils in city, perils in wilderness, perils in sea, perils among false brethren;

²⁷ in laboriousness and painfulness, in watchings many times, in hunger and thirst, in fastings many times, in cold and nakedness;

²⁸ apart from the things without -- the crowding upon me that is daily -- the care of all the assemblies.

²⁹ Who is infirm, and I am not infirm? who is stumbled, and I am not fired;

³⁰ if to boast it behoveth `me', of the things of my infirmity I will boast;

³¹ the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ -- who is blessed to the ages -- hath known that I do not lie! --

³² In Damascus the ethnarch of Aretas the king was watching the city of the Damascenes, wishing to seize me,

³³ and through a window in a rope basket I was let down, through the wall, and fled out of his hands.

---

¹ Would that ye would bear with me [in] a little folly; but indeed bear with me.

² For I am jealous as to you with a jealousy [which is] of God; for I have espoused you unto one man, to present [you] a chaste virgin to Christ.

³ But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craft, [so] your thoughts should be corrupted from simplicity as to the Christ.

⁴ For if indeed he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or ye get a different Spirit, which ye have not got, or a different glad tidings, which ye have not received, ye might well bear with [it].

⁵ For I reckon that in nothing I am behind those who are in surpassing degree apostles.

⁶ But if [I am] a simple person in speech, yet not in knowledge, but in everything making [the truth] manifest in all things to you.

⁷ Have I committed sin, abasing myself in order that *ye* might be exalted, because I gratuitously announced to you the glad tidings of God?

⁸ I spoiled other assemblies, receiving hire for ministry towards you.

⁹ And being present with you and lacking, I did not lazily burden any one, (for the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied what I lacked,) and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will keep myself.

¹⁰ [The] truth of Christ is in me that this boasting shall not be stopped as to me in the regions of Achaia.

¹¹ Why? because I do not love you? God knows.

¹² But what I do, I will also do, that I may cut off the opportunity of those wishing [for] an opportunity, that wherein they boast they may be found even as we.

¹³ For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

¹⁴ And [it is] not wonderful, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

¹⁵ It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

¹⁶ Again I say, Let not any one think me to be a fool; but if otherwise, receive me then even as a fool, that *I* also may boast myself some little.

¹⁷ What I speak I do not speak according to [the] Lord, but as in folly, in this confidence of boasting.

¹⁸ Since many boast according to flesh, *I* also will boast.

¹⁹ For ye bear fools readily, being wise.

²⁰ For ye bear if any one bring you into bondage, if any one devour [you], if any one get [your money], if any one exalt himself, if any one beat you on the face.

²¹ I speak as to dishonour, as though *we* had been weak; but wherein any one is daring, (I speak in folly,) *I* also am daring.

²² Are they Hebrews? *I* also. Are they Israelites? *I* also. Are they seed of Abraham? *I* also.

²³ Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as being beside myself) *I* above measure [so]; in labours exceedingly abundant, in stripes to excess, in prisons exceedingly abundant, in deaths oft.

²⁴ From the Jews five times have I received forty [stripes], save one.

²⁵ Thrice have I been scourged, once I have been stoned, three times I have suffered shipwreck, a night and day I passed in the deep:

²⁶ in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from [my own] race, in perils from [the] nations, in perils in [the] city, in perils in [the] desert, in perils on [the] sea, in perils among false brethren;

²⁷ in labour and toil, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

²⁸ Besides those things that are without, the crowd [of cares] pressing on me daily, the burden of all the assemblies.

²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is stumbled, and I burn not?

³⁰ If it is needful to boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus knows -- he who is blessed for ever -- that I do not lie.

³² In Damascus the ethnarch of Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes shut up, wishing to take me;

³³ and through a window in a basket I was let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

---

¹ I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me.

² For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

³ But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

⁴ For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different gospel, which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough.

⁵ For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles.

⁶ But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things.

⁷ Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God's Gospel free of charge?

⁸ I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might serve you.

⁹ When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn't a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.

¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

¹¹ Why? Because I don't love you? God knows.

¹² But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we.

¹³ For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles.

¹⁴ And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.

¹⁵ It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

¹⁶ I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little.

¹⁷ That which I speak, I don't speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

¹⁸ Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast.

¹⁹ For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise.

²⁰ For you bear with a man, if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, if he strikes you on the face.

²¹ I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet however any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

²² Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.

²³ Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.

²⁴ Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one.

²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep.

²⁶ I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers;

²⁷ in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.

²⁸ Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily, anxiety for all the assemblies.

²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I don't burn with indignation?

³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness.

³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forevermore, knows that I don't lie.

³² In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes desiring to arrest me.

³³ Through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

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¹ Put up with me if I am a little foolish: but, truly, you do put up with me.

² For I have a very great care for you: because you have been married by me to one husband, and it is my desire to give you completely holy to Christ.

³ But I have a fear, that in some way, as Eve was tricked by the deceit of the snake, your minds may be turned away from their simple and holy love for Christ.

⁴ For if anyone comes preaching another Jesus from the one whose preachers we are, or if you have got a different spirit, or a different sort of good news from those which came to you, how well you put up with these things.

⁵ For in my opinion, I am in no way less than the most important of the Apostles.

⁶ But though I am rough in my way of talking, I am not so in knowledge, as we have made clear to all by our acts among you.

⁷ Or did I do wrong in making myself low so that you might be lifted up, because I gave you the good news of God without reward?

⁸ I took money from other churches as payment for my work, so that I might be your servant;

⁹ And when I was present with you, and was in need, I let no man be responsible for me; for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, gave me whatever was needed; and in everything I kept myself from being a trouble to you, and I will go on doing so.

¹⁰ As the true word of Christ is in me, I will let no man take from me this my cause of pride in the country of Achaia.

¹¹ Why? because I have no love for you? let God be judge.

¹² But what I do, that I will go on doing, so that I may give no chance to those who are looking for one; so that, in the cause of their pride, they may be seen to be the same as we are.

¹³ For such men are false Apostles, workers of deceit, making themselves seem like Apostles of Christ.

¹⁴ And it is no wonder; for even Satan himself is able to take the form of an angel of light.

¹⁵ So it is no great thing if his servants make themselves seem to be servants of righteousness; whose end will be the reward of their works.

¹⁶ I say again, Let me not seem foolish to anyone; but if I do, put up with me as such, so that I may take a little glory to myself.

¹⁷ What I am now saying is not by the order of the Lord, but as a foolish person, taking credit to myself, as it seems.

¹⁸ Seeing that there are those who take credit to themselves after the flesh, I will do the same.

¹⁹ For you put up with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves.

²⁰ You put up with a man if he makes servants of you, if he makes profit out of you, if he makes you prisoners, if he puts himself in a high place, if he gives you blows on the face.

²¹ I say this by way of shaming ourselves, as if we had been feeble. But if anyone puts himself forward (I am talking like a foolish person), I will do the same.

²² Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they of Israel? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

²³ Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking foolishly) I am more so; I have had more experience of hard work, of prisons, of blows more than measure, of death.

²⁴ Five times the Jews gave me forty blows but one.

²⁵ Three times I was whipped with rods, once I was stoned, three times the ship I was in came to destruction at sea, a night and a day I have been in the water;

²⁶ In frequent travels, in dangers on rivers, in dangers from outlaws, in dangers from my countrymen, in dangers from the Gentiles, in dangers in the town, in dangers in the waste land, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers;

²⁷ In hard work and weariness, in frequent watchings, going without food and drink, cold and in need of clothing.

²⁸ In addition to all the other things, there is that which comes on me every day, the care of all the churches.

²⁹ Who is feeble and I am not feeble? who is in danger of falling, and I am not angry?

³⁰ If I have to take credit to myself, I will do so in the things in which I am feeble.

³¹ The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be praise for ever, is witness that the things which I say are true.

³² In Damascus, the ruler under Aretas the king kept watch over the town of the people of Damascus, in order to take me:

³³ And being let down in a basket from the wall through a window, I got free from his hands.