^{1 Ref} I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me.

^{2 Ref} For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

^{3 Ref} But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

^{4 Ref} For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different gospel, which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough.

^{5 Ref} For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles.

^{6 Ref} But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things.

^{7 Ref} Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God's Gospel free of charge?

^{8 Ref} I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might serve you.

^{9 Ref} When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn't a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.

^{10 Ref} As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

^{11 Ref} Why? Because I don't love you? God knows.

^{12 Ref} But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we.

^{13 Ref} For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles.

^{14 Ref} And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.

^{15 Ref} It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

^{16 Ref} I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little.

^{17 Ref} That which I speak, I don't speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

^{18 Ref} Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast.

^{19 Ref} For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise.

^{20 Ref} For you bear with a man, if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, if he strikes you on the face.

^{21 Ref} I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet however any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

^{22 Ref} Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.

^{23 Ref} Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.

^{24 Ref} Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one.

^{25 Ref} Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep.

^{26 Ref} I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers;

^{27 Ref} in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.

^{28 Ref} Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily, anxiety for all the assemblies.

^{29 Ref} Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I don't burn with indignation?

^{30 Ref} If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness.

^{31 Ref} The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forevermore, knows that I don't lie.

^{32 Ref} In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes desiring to arrest me.

^{33 Ref} Through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

^{1 Ref} O that ye were bearing with me a little of the folly, but ye also do bear with me:

^{2 Ref} for I am zealous for you with zeal of God, for I did betroth you to one husband, a pure virgin, to present to Christ,

^{3 Ref} and I fear, lest, as the serpent did beguile Eve in his subtilty, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that `is' in the Christ;

^{4 Ref} for if, indeed, he who is coming doth preach another Jesus whom we did not preach, or another Spirit ye receive which ye did not receive, or other good news which ye did not accept -- well were ye bearing `it',

^{5 Ref} for I reckon that I have been nothing behind the very chiefest apostles,

^{6 Ref} and even if unlearned in word -- yet not in knowledge, but in every thing we were made manifest in all things to you.

^{7 Ref} The sin did I do -- myself humbling that ye might be exalted, because freely the good news of God I did proclaim to you?

^{8 Ref} other assemblies I did rob, having taken wages, for your ministration;

^{9 Ref} and being present with you, and having been in want, I was chargeable to no one, for my lack did the brethren supply -- having come from Macedonia -- and in everything burdenless to you I did keep myself, and will keep.

^{10 Ref} The truth of Christ is in me, because this boasting shall not be stopped in regard to me in the regions of Achaia;

^{11 Ref} wherefore? because I do not love you? God hath known!

^{12 Ref} and what I do, I also will do, that I may cut off the occasion of those wishing an occasion, that in that which they boast they may be found according as we also;

^{13 Ref} for those such `are' false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,

^{14 Ref} and no wonder -- for even the Adversary doth transform himself into a messenger of light;

^{15 Ref} no great thing, then, if also his ministrants do transform themselves as ministrants of righteousness -- whose end shall be according to their works.

^{16 Ref} Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if otherwise, even as a fool receive me, that I also a little may boast.

^{17 Ref} That which I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this the confidence of boasting;

^{18 Ref} since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast:

^{19 Ref} for gladly do ye bear with the fools -- being wise,

^{20 Ref} for ye bear, if any one is bringing you under bondage, if any one doth devour, if any one doth take away, if any one doth exalt himself, if any one on the face doth smite you;

^{21 Ref} in reference to dishonour I speak, how that we were weak, and in whatever any one is bold -- in foolishness I say `it' -- I also am bold.

^{22 Ref} Hebrews are they? I also! Israelites are they? I also! seed of Abraham are they? I also!

^{23 Ref} ministrants of Christ are they? -- as beside myself I speak -- I more; in labours more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths many times;

^{24 Ref} from Jews five times forty `stripes' save one I did receive;

^{25 Ref} thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice was I shipwrecked, a night and a day in the deep I have passed;

^{26 Ref} journeyings many times, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from kindred, perils from nations, perils in city, perils in wilderness, perils in sea, perils among false brethren;

^{27 Ref} in laboriousness and painfulness, in watchings many times, in hunger and thirst, in fastings many times, in cold and nakedness;

^{28 Ref} apart from the things without -- the crowding upon me that is daily -- the care of all the assemblies.

^{29 Ref} Who is infirm, and I am not infirm? who is stumbled, and I am not fired;

^{30 Ref} if to boast it behoveth `me', of the things of my infirmity I will boast;

^{31 Ref} the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ -- who is blessed to the ages -- hath known that I do not lie! --

^{32 Ref} In Damascus the ethnarch of Aretas the king was watching the city of the Damascenes, wishing to seize me,

^{33 Ref} and through a window in a rope basket I was let down, through the wall, and fled out of his hands.

^{1 Ref} Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

^{2 Ref} For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

^{3 Ref} But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

^{4 Ref} 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.

^{5 Ref} For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

^{6 Ref} But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

^{7 Ref} Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

^{8 Ref} I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

^{9 Ref} And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

^{10 Ref} As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

^{11 Ref} Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

^{12 Ref} But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

^{13 Ref} For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

^{14 Ref} And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

^{15 Ref} Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

^{16 Ref} I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

^{17 Ref} That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

^{18 Ref} Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

^{19 Ref} For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

^{20 Ref} For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

^{21 Ref} I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

^{22 Ref} Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

^{23 Ref} Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

^{24 Ref} Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

^{25 Ref} Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

^{26 Ref} In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

^{27 Ref} In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

^{28 Ref} Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

^{29 Ref} Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

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

^{31 Ref} The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

^{32 Ref} In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

^{33 Ref} And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.