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- I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.
- In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
- Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast.
- You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!
- In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face.
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- Again 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.
- What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
- Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.
- For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.
- For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face.
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- To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! What anyone else dares to boast about--I am speaking as a fool--I also dare to boast about.
- Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I.
- 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.
- Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
- Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
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- To 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.
- Are they Hebrews? So am I Are they Israelites? So am I Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
- Are 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.
- Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
- Three 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.
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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 own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.
- 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.
- Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
- Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
- If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
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- I 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;
- I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
- Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.
- Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?
- If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.
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- The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.
- In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.
- But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
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- The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
- In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me,
- and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.
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