1 I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me.

Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me.

2 F or I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.

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

3 B ut I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

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

4 F or if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! Paul and False Apostles

5 F or I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles.

For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.

6 B ut even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.

Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.

7 O r did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?

Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?

8 I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;

I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.

9 a nd when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.

And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.

10 A s the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.

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

11 W hy? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

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

12 B ut what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting.

But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.

13 F or such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

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

14 N o wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

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

15 T herefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

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

16 A gain I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.

I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.

17 W hat I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

18 S ince many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.

Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.

19 F or you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.

For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise!

20 F or you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face.

For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.

21 T o my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold—I speak in foolishness—I am just as bold myself.

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. Suffering for Christ

22 A re they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

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

23 A re they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.

Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.

24 F ive times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.

From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.

25 T hree 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 deep.

Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;

in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—

28 A part from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

29 W ho is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

30 I f I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.

If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

31 T he God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

32 I n Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me,

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

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

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