1 A nd I, Paul, myself, do call upon you -- through the meekness and gentleness of the Christ -- who in presence, indeed humble among you, and being absent, have courage toward you,

Now I myself, Paul, beseech you, by the gentleness and consideration of Christ who lowly enough when among you face to face, but bold (fearless and outspoken) to you when absent from you!

2 a nd I beseech, that, being present, I may not have courage, with the confidence with which I reckon to be bold against certain reckoning us as walking according to the flesh;

I entreat you when I do come that I may not boldness as I intend to show toward those few who suspect us of acting according to the flesh.

3 f or walking in the flesh, not according to the flesh do we war,

For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons.

4 f or the weapons of our warfare not fleshly, but powerful to God for bringing down of strongholds,

For the weapons of our warfare are not physical, but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,

5 r easonings bringing down, and every high thing lifted up against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of the Christ,

refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

6 a nd being in readiness to avenge every disobedience, whenever your obedience may be fulfilled.

Being in readiness to punish every disobedience, when your own submission and obedience are fully secured and complete.

7 T he things in presence do ye see? if any one hath trusted in himself to be Christ's, this let him reckon again from himself, that according as he is Christ's, so also we Christ's;

Look at which is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him reflect and remind himself that even as he is Christ’s, so too are we.

8 f or even if also anything more abundantly I shall boast concerning our authority, that the Lord gave us for building up, and not for casting you down, I shall not be ashamed;

For even though I boast rather freely about our power and authority, which the Lord gave for your upbuilding and not for demolishing you, yet I shall not be put to shame,

9 t hat I may not seem as if I would terrify you through the letters,

Neither would I seem to be overawing or frightening you with my letters;

10 ` because the letters indeed -- saith one -- weighty and strong, and the bodily presence weak, and the speech despicable.'

For they say, His letters are weighty and impressive and forceful and telling, but his personality and bodily presence are weak, and his speech and delivery are utterly contemptible (of no account).

11 T his one -- let him reckon thus: that such as we are in word, through letters, being absent, such also, being present, in deed.

Let such people realize that what we say by letters when we are absent, also into deeds when we are present—

12 F or we do not make bold to rank or to compare ourselves with certain of those commending themselves, but they, among themselves measuring themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not wise,

Not that we venture to class or compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely.

13 a nd we in regard to the unmeasured things will not boast ourselves, but after the measure of the line that the God of measure did appoint to us -- to reach even unto you;

We, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our legitimate province and proper limit, but will keep within the limits God has allotted us as our measuring line and which reaches and includes even you.

14 f or not as not reaching to you do we stretch ourselves overmuch, for even unto you did we come in the good news of the Christ,

For we are not overstepping the limits of our province and stretching beyond our ability to reach, as though we reached not (had no legitimate mission) to you, for we were to come even as far as to you with the good news (the Gospel) of Christ.

15 n ot boasting of the things not measured, in other men's labours, and having hope -- your faith increasing -- in you to be enlarged, according to our line -- into abundance,

We do not boast therefore, beyond our proper limit, over other men’s labors, but we have the hope and confident expectation that as your faith continues to grow, our field among you may be greatly enlarged, still within the limits of our commission,

16 i n the beyond you to proclaim good news, not in another's line in regard to the things made ready, to boast;

So that preach the Gospel in lands beyond you, without making a boast of work already done in another sphere of activity.

17 a nd he who is boasting -- in the Lord let him boast;

However, let him who boasts and glories boast and glory in the Lord.

18 f or not he who is commending himself is approved, but he whom the Lord doth commend.

For not who praises and commends himself who is approved and accepted, but whom the Lord accredits and commends.