1 ¶ Now I, Paul, myself beseech you by the meekness and clemency of the Christ (who in presence am low among you, but being absent am bold toward you)

Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!

2 b ut I beseech you that I need not be bold when I am present with that confidence, with which I am esteemed to use against some who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh.

I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh.

3 F or though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh

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 through God for the destruction of strong holds),

for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

5 c asting down reasonings and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and leading captive every thought into the obedience of the Christ

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

6 a nd having a readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

7 ¶ Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If anyone trusts to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.

You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we.

8 F or though I should glory somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord has given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed,

For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame,

9 T hat I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.

10 F or his letters, they say, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.”

11 L et such a one think this, that such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.

12 ¶ For we dare not mix ourselves in with or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves, but they do not understand that they are measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves.

For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

13 B ut we will not glory of things beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the rule, of the measure which God has distributed to us, to reach even unto you.

But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.

14 F or we do not overextend ourselves by reaching unto you; for we are also come unto you with the gospel of the Christ,

For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ;

15 N ot glorying of things beyond our measure in the labours of others; but having hope of the increase of your faith, that we shall be abundantly enlarged among you according to our rule,

not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you,

16 t o preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, without entering into the measure of another to glory in that which has already been made ready.

so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another.

17 B ut he that glories, let him glory in the Lord.

But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord.

18 F or it is not he that commends himself that is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.