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

³ and I, in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling, was with you;

⁵ Of such an one I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities,

⁶ for if I may wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for truth I will say; but I forebear, lest any one in regard to me may think anything above what he doth see me, or doth hear anything of me;

⁷ and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch.

⁸ Concerning this thing thrice the Lord did I call upon, that it might depart from me,

⁹ and He said to me, `Sufficient for thee is My grace, for My power in infirmity is perfected;' most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:

¹⁰ wherefore I am well pleased in infirmities, in damages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses -- for Christ; for whenever I am infirm, then I am powerful;

¹¹ I have become a fool -- boasting; ye -- ye did compel me; for I ought by you to have been commended, for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles -- even if I am nothing.

²⁷ The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour -- honour.

² Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth, A stranger, and not thine own lips.

²³ Thus said Jehovah: Let not the wise boast himself in his wisdom, Nor let the mighty boast himself in his might, Let not the rich boast himself in his riches,

²⁴ But -- in this let the boaster boast himself, In understanding and knowing Me, For I `am' Jehovah, doing kindness, Judgment, and righteousness, in the earth, For in these I have delighted, An affirmation of Jehovah.

¹⁶ 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 That which I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this the confidence of boasting;

¹⁸ since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast:

¹ To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

²⁴ I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and do fill up the things lacking of the tribulations of the Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the assembly,