1 ¶ I hope that you will put up with a little foolishness of mine: yes do put up with me.

2 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 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve through his craftiness, so in some way, your minds may be led astray from a single-minded and pure devotion to Christ.

4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a different Jesus, from the one that we have preached, or if you receive a different spirit, from the one that you received, or a different gospel, from the one you accepted, you allow it all too readily.

5 ¶ I do not think that I am in any way inferior to these phony super apostles.

6 But if I am not a trained speaker, I still know what I am talking about; In fact, we have made that clear to you in every way.

7 Did I make a mistake by lowering myself in order that you might be exalted, by having God’s gospel preached to you free of charge?

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

9 And when I was present with you, and needed things, I was not a burden to anyone: for the brethren that came from Macedonia supplied what I needed: and in every way I kept myself from being a burden to you, and I will continue to do so.

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

11 Why? because I do not love you? God knows better.

12 But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to deny those who look for an opportunity, any opportunity to brag that they are no different from us.

13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

14 And no wonder; for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

16 ¶ Again I repeat, Do not let anyone think that I am foolish because I boast; but if you do, then put up with me even if you think I am being foolish, so that I may do a little boasting.

17 The things I say, when I boast so confidently, are not the kind of things Jesus would say, but the kind of bragging a fool does.

18 However since many are boasting as foolish men do, I will boast also.

19 For you gladly put up with such fools, since you are so smart.

20 Why, you even put up with it, if one brings you into bondage, or exploits you, or takes advantage of you, or exalts himself, or slaps you on the face.

21 What I say seems like a reproach, as if we lacked the authority to act that way. However whatever anyone else dares to claim, (I speak foolishly,) I can claim also.

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

23 Are they servants of Christ? (I brag like a fool) I have done far more; I have worked much harder, have been beaten more severely, have been in prison more often, and faced death time after time.

24 On five different occasions the Jews gave me forty lashes minus one.

25 I was beaten with rods three times, I was stoned once, I suffered shipwreck three times, I have spent a night and a day in the open sea;

26 I made frequent journeys, with danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own countrymen, danger from the heathen, danger in the city, danger in the desert, danger in the sea, danger from false brethren;

27 I labored and toiled, often going without sleep, I have been hungry and thirsty, often going without food, I have been cold and naked.

28 In addition to those external things, I daily bear a burden of responsibility, that of caring for all the churches.

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is snared by Satan, without me being burned?

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that pertain to my weakness.

31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for evermore, knows that I am not lying.

32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, in order to arrest me:

33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall, and escaped out of his hand.