[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. [17] What I am
saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. [18] Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. [19] For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! [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. [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. [22] Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are
they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? 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. [24] Five times I received at
the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less 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; [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; [27] in toil and hardship, through many
a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and
exposure. [28] And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure
on me of my anxiety for all the churches. [29] Who is weak, and I am
not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
[30] If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my |
