1 I wish you would listen to a little foolish talk from me. Now listen.

OJALA toleraseis un poco mi locura; empero toleradme.

2 I am jealous for you with a God-like jealousy. I have given you, as a woman who has never had a man, to one Husband, Who is Christ.

Pues que os celo con celo de Dios; porque os he desposado á un marido, para presentaros como una virgen pura á Cristo.

3 E ve was fooled by the snake in the garden of Eden. In the same way, I am afraid that you will be fooled and led away from your pure love for Christ.

Mas temo que como la serpiente engaño á Eva con su astucia, sean corrompidos así vuestros sentidos en alguna manera, de la simplicidad que es en Cristo.

4 Y ou listen when someone comes and preaches a different Jesus than the One we preached. You believe what you hear about a different spirit and different good news than that which we preached.

Porque si el que viene, predicare otro Jesús que el que hemos predicado, ó recibiereis otro espíritu del que habéis recibido, ú otro evangelio del que habéis aceptado, lo sufrierais bien.

5 I do not think I am less than those special missionaries who are coming to you.

Cierto pienso que en nada he sido inferior á aquellos grandes apóstoles.

6 E ven if it is hard for me to speak, I know what I am talking about. You know this by now.

Porque aunque soy basto en la palabra, empero no en la ciencia: mas en todo somos ya del todo manifiestos á vosotros.

7 D id I do wrong? I did not ask you for anything when I preached the Good News to you. I made myself poor so you would be made rich.

¿Pequé yo humillándome á mí mismo, para que vosotros fueseis ensalzados, porque os he predicado el evangelio de Dios de balde?

8 I did take money from other churches. I used it while I worked with you so you would not have to pay me.

He despojado las otras iglesias, recibiendo salario para ministraros á vosotros.

9 S ome of the time I had no money when I was with you. But I did not ask you for money. The Christians from the country of Macedonia brought me what I needed. I did not ask you and I will not ask you for anything.

Y estando con vosotros y teniendo necesidad, á ninguno fuí carga; porque lo que me faltaba, suplieron los hermanos que vinieron de Macedonia: y en todo me guardé de seros gravoso, y me guardaré.

10 A s sure as the truth of Christ is in me, I will not stop telling those in the country of Greece that I am proud of this.

Es la verdad de Cristo en mí, que esta gloria no me será cerrada en las partes de Acaya.

11 D oes it mean I do not love you? God knows I do.

¿Por qué? ¿porque no os amo? Dios lo sabe.

12 W hat I am doing now, I will keep on doing. I will do it to stop those who say they work as we do.

Mas lo que hago, haré aún, para cortar la ocasión de aquellos que la desean, á fin de que en aquello que se glorían, sean hallados semejantes á nosotros.

13 T hose men are false missionaries. They lie about their work. But they make themselves look like true missionaries of Christ.

Porque éstos son falsos apóstoles, obreros fraudulentos, trasfigurándose en apóstoles de Cristo.

14 I t is no surprise! The devil makes himself look like an angel of light.

Y no es maravilla, porque el mismo Satanás se transfigura en ángel de luz.

15 A nd so it is no surprise if his servants also make themselves look like preachers of the Good News. They and their work will come to the same end. What Paul Suffered as a Missionary

Así que, no es mucho si también sus ministros se transfiguran como ministros de justicia; cuyo fin será conforme á sus obras.

16 L et me say it again. Do not think of me as a fool. But if you do, then let this foolish man speak a little about himself.

Otra vez digo: Que nadie me estime ser loco; de otra manera, recibidme como á loco, para que aun me gloríe yo un poquito.

17 T he Lord has not told me to talk about myself. I am foolish when I do talk about myself like this.

Lo que hablo, no lo hablo según el Señor, sino como en locura, con esta confianza de gloria.

18 S ince the other men tell you all about themselves, I will talk about myself also.

Pues que muchos se glorían según la carne, también yo me gloriaré.

19 Y ou are so wise! You put up with fools!

Porque de buena gana toleráis los necios, siendo vosotros sabios:

20 Y ou listen to anyone who tells you what to do or makes money off of you or sets a trap for you. You will listen to anyone who makes himself bigger than you or hits you in the face.

Porque toleráis si alguno os pone en servidumbre, si alguno os devora, si alguno toma, si alguno se ensalza, si alguno os hiere en la cara.

21 I am ashamed to say that I am weak! But I do not do as they do. Whatever they say about themselves, I can say about myself also. (I know what I am saying sounds foolish.)

Dígolo cuanto á la afrenta, como si nosotros hubiésemos sido flacos. Empero en lo que otro tuviere osadía (hablo con locura), también yo tengo osadía.

22 A re they Jews? So am I. Are they from the family of Israel? So am I. Are they from the family of Abraham? So am I.

¿Son Hebreos? yo también. ¿Son Israelitas? yo también. ¿Son simiente de Abraham? también yo.

23 D o they work for Christ? I have worked for Him much more than they have. (I speak as if I am crazy.) I have done much more work. I have been in prison more times. I cannot remember how many times I have been whipped. Many times I have been in danger of death.

¿Son ministros de Cristo? (como poco sabio hablo) yo más: en trabajos más abundante; en azotes sin medida; en cárceles más; en muertes, muchas veces.

24 F ive different times the Jews whipped me across my back thirty-nine times.

De los judíos cinco veces he recibido cuarenta azotes menos uno.

25 T hree times they beat me with sticks. One time they threw stones at me. Three times I was on ships that were wrecked. I spent a day and a night in the water.

Tres veces he sido azotado con varas; una vez apedreado; tres veces he padecido naufragio; una noche y un día he estado en lo profundo de la mar;

26 I have made many hard trips. I have been in danger from high water on rivers. I have been in danger from robbers. I have been in danger from the Jews. I have been in danger from people who do not know God. I have been in danger in cities and in the desert. I have been in danger on the sea. I have been in danger among people who say they belong to Christ but do not.

En caminos muchas veces, peligros de ríos, peligros de ladrones, peligros de los de mi nación, peligros de los Gentiles, peligros en la ciudad, peligros en el desierto, peligros en la mar, peligros entre falsos hermanos;

27 I have worked hard and have been tired and have had pain. I have gone many times without sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty. I have gone without food and clothes. I have been out in the cold.

En trabajo y fatiga, en muchas vigilias, en hambre y sed, en muchos ayunos, en frío y en desnudez;

28 M ore than all these things that have happened to my body, the care of all the churches is heavy on me.

Sin otras cosas además, lo que sobre mí se agolpa cada día, la solicitud de todas las iglesias.

29 W hen someone is weak, I feel weak also. When someone is led into sin, I have a strong desire to help him.

¿Quién enferma, y yo no enfermo? ¿Quién se escandaliza, y yo no me quemo?

30 I f I must talk about myself, I will do it about the things that show how weak I am.

Si es menester gloriarse, me gloriaré yo de lo que es de mi flaqueza.

31 T he God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is to be honored and thanked forever. He knows I am telling the truth.

El Dios y Padre del Señor nuestro Jesucristo, que es bendito por siglos, sabe que no miento.

32 I n the city of Damascus the leader of the people under King Aretas put soldiers at the gates to take me.

En Damasco, el gobernador de la provincia del rey Aretas guardaba la ciudad de los Damascenos para prenderme;

33 B ut I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and I got away.

Y fuí descolgado del muro en un serón por una ventana, y escapé de sus manos.