English Standard Version ESV
New International Version NIV
16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
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I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.
17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not with the Lord's authority but as a fool.
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In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.
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Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast.
19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves!
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You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!
20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face.
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In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face.
21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of--I am speaking as a fool--I also dare to boast of that.
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To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I.
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Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one--I am talking like a madman--with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
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Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.
24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.
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Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;
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Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;
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I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.
27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
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I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
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Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
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Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
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If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
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The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.
32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me,
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In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.
33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.
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But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.