New American Standard Bible 1995

Holman Christian Standard Bible

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

1I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me.

2For 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.

2For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband--to present a pure virgin to Christ.

3But 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.

3But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure devotion to Christ.

4For 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.

4For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

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

5Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the "super-apostles."

6But 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.

6Though untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not untrained in knowledge. Indeed, we have always made that clear to you in everything.

7Or 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?

7Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?

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

8I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you.

9and 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.

9When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.

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

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

11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

11Why? Because I don't love you? God knows I do!

12But 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.

12But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about.

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

13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

14No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

14And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

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

15So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.

16Again 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.

16I repeat: No one should consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, so I too may boast a little.

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

17What I say in this matter of boasting, I don't speak as the Lord would, but foolishly.

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

18Since many boast in an unspiritual way, I will also boast.

19For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.

19For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!

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

20In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone captures you, if someone dominates you, or if someone hits you in the face.

21To 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.

21I say this to our shame: We have been weak. But in whatever anyone dares to boast--I am talking foolishly--I also dare:

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

22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.

23Are 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.

23Are they servants of Christ? I'm talking like a madman--I'm a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, near death many times.

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

24Five times I received 39 lashes from Jews.

25Three 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.

25Three times I was beaten with rods by the Romans. Once I was stoned by my enemies. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.

26I 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;

26On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers;

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

27labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and lacking clothing.

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

28Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches.

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

29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

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

30If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses.

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

31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is praised forever, knows I am not lying.

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

32In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me,

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

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

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.