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For if I should glory somewhat more, in the authority which our Lord hath given me, I should not be ashamed; for he gave it to us for your edification, and not for your destruction.

10 For there are some who say, [fn] epistles are weighty and forcible, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

For we dare not value, or compare ourselves, with those who vaunt: but they, because they compare themselves with themselves, are not wise.

For we do not stretch ourselves, as if not reaching to you; for we do reach as far as you in the annunciation of the Messiah.

For not he who praiseth himself, is approved; but he whom the Lord praiseth.

For I am jealous over you, with a godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to a husband as a chaste virgin, whom I would present to the Messiah.

For if he that cometh to you, had proclaimed to you another Jesus, whom we have not proclaimed; or if ye had received another Spirit, which ye have not received; or another gospel, which ye have not accepted; ye might well have given assent.

For, I suppose, I came not short of those legates who most excel.

For, though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but in all things we have been manifest among you.

8 And I robbed other churches, and I took pay [fn] for ministering to you.

And when I came among you and was needy, I was burdensome to none of you; for the brethren who came from Macedonia, supplied my wants: and in all things I kept myself, and I will keep myself, from being burdensome to you.

For they are false legates, crafty workers, and feign themselves to be legates of the Messiah.

And in this there is nothing strange. For if Satan feigneth himself an angel of light,

For ye hear with indulgence them who lack reason, seeing ye are wise.

besides many other things, and the thronging around me every day, and my anxiety for all the churches.

God, the Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, blessed for ever and ever, he knoweth that I lie not.

Yet if I were disposed to glory, I should not be without reason; for I declare the truth. But I refrain, lest any one should think of me, beyond what he seeth in me and heareth from me.

And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my power is perfected in weakness. Gladly, therefore, will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of the Messiah may rest upon me.

Therefore I have pleasure in infirmities, in reproach, in afflictions, in persecutions, in distresses, which are for the Messiah's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Behold, I have become foolish in my glorying, for ye compelled me. For ye ought to bear witness for me; because I was inferior in nothing to those legates who most excel, although I was nothing.