1  Now I, Paul, myself appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who face to face [am] lowly among you, but when I am away am bold toward you.

2  But I beseech [you] that when I am present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I plan to be bold toward some, who consider us as walking according to the flesh.

2  I beseech you, that when I arrive, not to be troubled by the things which I hope to carry out, for it is my purpose to put to scorn those men who regard us as if we lived after the flesh.

3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

4  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty by God to the pulling down of strongholds,

4  For the weapons which we use are not earthly weapons, but of the might of God by which we conquer rebellious strongholds;

5  casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ,

5  and height that extols itself contrary to the wisdom of God, and leading every intellect into the captivity of obedience to Christ,

6  and being ready to avenge every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is fulfilled.

6  and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.

6  And we are prepared to seek vengeance on those who are disobedient, when your obedience is fulfilled.

7  Do you look at things as they appear? If anyone has persuaded himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's.

7  Consider the things that are in accord with appearances. If anyone trusts that by these things he belongs to Christ, let him reconsider this within himself. For just as he belongs to Christ, so also do we.

7  Do you judge by outward appearance? If any man thinks of himself that he belongs to Christ, let him know this of himself, that just as he belongs to Christ, so we also belong.

8  For even if I should boast somewhat more concerning our authority, which YHWH gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I will not be ashamed,

8  For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame

8  For if I should boast somewhat more of the authority which our LORD has given me, I should not be ashamed, for he has given it to us for your edification, and not for your destruction.

9  lest I seem to terrify you by my letters.

9  But let it not be said that I am scaring you by means of epistles.

10  "For his letters,"they say, "are severe and boisterous, but his bodily presence [is] feeble, and his speech amounts to nothing."

10  For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.

10  For there are men who say that his epistles are weighty and powerful; but his bodily appearance is weak, and his speech foolish.

11  Let such a person consider this, that of what sort we are in word by letters when we are absent, of such a kind [we will] also [be] in deed when we are present.

11  Let someone like this realize that whatever we are in word through epistles, while absent: we are much the same in deed, while present.

11  But let him who supposes so consider this, that, just as we express ourselves in our epistles when we are away, so are we also in deed when we are present.

12  For we dare not to class ourselves or to compare ourselves with those who commend themselves, but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, do not understand.

12  For we would not dare to interpose or compare ourselves with certain ones who commend themselves. But we measure ourselves by ourselves, and we compare ourselves with ourselves.

13  But we will not boast beyond limits, but according to the measure of the sphere [of influence ]which God assigned us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.

13  Thus, we will not glory beyond our measure, but rather according to the measure of the limit which God has measured out to us, a measure which extends even to you.

13  We do not boast beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God has distributed to us, a measure to reach even to you.

14  For we are not overextending ourselves, as though our authority did not reach to you, for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;

14  For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ

14  It is not because we are unable to climb where you are; nor are trying to misrepresent ourselves; for we have climbed where we are through the gospel of Christ

15  not boasting beyond the limits in the labors of others, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you according to our sphere [of influence],

15  We are not glorying immeasurably over the labors of others. Instead, we hold on to the hope of your growing faith, so as to be magnified in you, according to our own limits, but in abundance,

15  And we do not boast of things beyond our measure; that is, by other menÆs labor, but we have the hope, that when your faith grows, our pride shall be justified according to our measure.

16  to preach the gospel to the [regions] beyond you, [and] not to boast in the things done in the sphere [of influence] of others.

16  and even so as to evangelize in those places that are beyond you, not in order to glory in the measure of others, but rather in those things which have already been prepared.

17  But "he who boasts, let him boast in YHWH."

17  But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

18  For not he who commends himself is approved, but he[ ]whom YHWH commends.

18  For it is not he who commends himself who is approved, but rather he whom God commends.

11:1  Oh, that you would bear with me a little in my foolishness; but indeed you do bear with me.

1  I WISH you to be patient with me for a while, so that I may speak plainly, and I am sure you will be.

11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy, for I have betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

11:3  But I fear, lest perhaps as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

3  But I am afraid, that just as the serpent through his deceitfulness misled Eve, so your minds should be corrupted from the sincerity that is in Christ.

11:4  For if he who comes [to you ]preaches another Jesus whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you did not accept, you may well put up with him!

4  For if anyone arrives preaching another Christ, one whom we have not preached; or if you receive another Spirit, one whom you have not received; or another Gospel, one which you have not been given: you might permit him to guide you.

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.

11:5  For I consider [myself] [in] nothing to have been inferior to the most super apostles.

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

11:6  But even if I [am] unskilled in speech, yet [I am] not [inferior ]in knowledge, but in every [way] I was made known to you in all things.

6  For although I may be unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge. But, in all things, we have been made manifest to you.

6  But though I am a poor speaker, I am not poor in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.

11:7  Or did I commit sin in humbling myself in order that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?

7  Probably I have acted foolishly in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God freely.

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?

11:8  I robbed other churches, taking wages [from them] to minister to you,

8  I have taken from other churches, receiving a stipend from them to the benefit of your ministry.

8  I deprived other churches, taking supplies from them, in order to minister to you.

11:9  and when I was present with you, and in need, I did not burden anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. And in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and so I will keep myself.

9  And when I came to you and was in need, I did not burden any of you for my wants were supplied by the brethren who came from Mac-e-doÆni-a : I have taken care of myself in every way and I will so continue to keep myself that I will not be a burden to you.

11:10  As the truth of Christ is in me, that this boasting will not be silenced in me in the regions of Achaia.

10  The truth of Christ is in me, and so this glorying shall not be broken away from me in the regions of Achaia.

11:11  Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!

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

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

11:12  But what I am doing, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity of those who desire an opportunity, that in what they boast they may be found just as we [are].

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.

12  But what I do, I will continue to do, so as to give no occasion to those who seek an occasion; and that, in whatever they boast, they may not be found equal to us;

11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

13  For false apostles, such as these deceitful workers, are presenting themselves as if they were Apostles of Christ.

13  For they are false apostles, and deceitful workers, posing as apostles of Christ.

11:14  And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

14  There is no marvel in this; for if Satan disguises himself as the angel of light,

11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

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

11:16  Again I say, let no one think me a fool. Otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.

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.

16  I say again. And let no one consider me to be foolish. Or, at least, accept me as if I were foolish, so that I also may glory a small amount.

11:17  What I speak, I speak not according to YHWH, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

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

17  What I am saying is not said according to God, but as if in foolishness, in this matter of glorying.

11:18  Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I also will boast.

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

18  Because many boast on the things of the flesh, I boast also.

11:19  For you bear with fools gladly, being wise [yourselves]!

19  For you freely accept the foolish, though you yourselves claim to be wise.

11:20  For you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone takes from you, if someone exalts himself, if someone strikes you in the face.

11:21  To our shame, I say that we were too weak [for that]! But in whatever anyone is bold (I speak foolishly) I am bold also.

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.

21  I speak according to disgrace, as if we had been weak in this regard. In this matter, (I speak in foolishness) if anyone dares, I dare also.

11:22  Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.

22  Now if they are Hebrews, so am I. If they are Israelites, so am I. If they are descendants of Abraham, so am I.

11:23  Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I [am] even more: in labors far more, in beatings immeasurably, in imprisonments far more, in deaths often.

23  They are the ministers of Christ (I speak as if I were less wise); more so am I: with many more labors, with numerous imprisonments, with wounds beyond measure, with frequent mortifications.

23  If they are ministers of Christ, I speak as a fool, I am greater than they; in labor more than they, in wounds more than they, in imprisonments more frequent than they, and in danger of death many times.

11:24  By [the] Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.

24  On five occasions, I received forty stripes, less one, from the Jews.

24  By the Jews I was scourged five times, each time forty stripes less one.

11:25  Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have spent in the depth [of the sea].

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;

11:26  In journeys often, in dangers of rivers, in dangers of robbers, in dangers from my own race, in dangers from the Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers in the sea, in dangers among false brothers;

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;

11:27  in labor and hardship, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness-

27  with hardships and difficulties, with much vigilance, in hunger and thirst, with frequent fasts, in cold and nakedness,

11:28  apart from what I leave unmentioned, what comes against me daily: the anxiety for all the churches.

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

11:29  Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I do not burn [with indignation]?

29  Who is sick that I do not feel the pain? Who stumbles that does not have my heartfelt sympathy?

11:30  If I must boast, I will boast about the things concerning my weakness.

30  If it is necessary to glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weaknesses.

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

11:31  The God and Father of YHWH Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

11:32  In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;

32  At Damascus, the governor of the nation under Aretas the king, watched over the city of the Damascenes, so as to apprehend me.

11:33  but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

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

33  And I was lowered in a basket from a window over the city wall, and thus I escaped from his hands.