1I wish that you would bear with me in a little folly. But indeed, you are bearing with me.

2For I am jealous for you with a jealousy according to Elohim. For I gave you in marriage to one husband, to present you as an innocent maiden to Messiah.

3But I am afraid, lest, as the serpent deceived Ḥawwah by his trickery, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Messiah.

4For, indeed, if he who is coming proclaims another יהושע,a whom we have not proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different Good News which you have not accepted, you put up with it well enough!

5For I reckon that I am not inferior to the most eminent emissaries.

6But even if I am unskilled in word,a yet not in knowledge. Indeed, in every way we have been manifested among you in all matters.

7Or did I commit sin in humbling myself in order to exalt you, because I brought good news, the Good News of Elohim to you without being paid?

8Other assemblies I robbed, by receiving wages from them to serve you.

9And when I was present with you, and in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for what was lacking to me the brothers who came from Makedonia supplied. And in every way I kept myself – and shall keep – from being a burden to you.

10It is a truth of Messiah in me, that this boasting in me shall not be stopped in the districts of Achaia.

11Why? Is it that I do not love you? Elohim knows!

12And I shall go on doing as I do, in order to cut off the occasion from those desiring an occasion, so that in that which they boast, they might be found also as we are.

13For such are false emissaries, deceptive workers, masquerading as emissaries of Messiah.

14And no wonder! For Satan himself masquerades as a messenger of light!

15It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness,a whose end shall be according to their works!b

16Again I say, let no one think me to be a fool. And if otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, for me to also boast a little.

17What I speak, I speak not according to the Master, but as in foolishness, in this boldness of boasting.

18Since many boast according to the flesh, I too shall boast.

19For you, being wise, put up with fools gladly!

20For you put up with it if anyone enslaves you, if anyone devours you, if anyone takes from you, if anyone exalts himself, if one hits you in the face.

21To my shame, I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold – I say it in foolishness – I am bold also.

22Are they Heḇrews? So am I. Are they Yisra’ĕlites? So am I. Are they the seed of Aḇraham? So am I.

23Are they servants of Messiah? – I speak as beside myself – I am more, in labours much more, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths many times.

24Five times I received from the Yehuḏim forty stripes less one.

25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have been in the deep,

26in many travels, in dangers of waters, in dangers of robbers, in dangers from my own race, in dangers from the gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the desert, in dangers in the sea, in dangers among false brothers;

27in toil and hardship, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness,

28besides the matters from outside, what comes upon me daily: the anxiety for all the assemblies.

29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn inwardly?

30If I have to boast, I shall boast of matters that show up my weakness.

31The Elohim and Father of our Master יהושע Messiah, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

32In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the sovereign, was guarding the city of the Damascenes, wishing to seize me,

33but through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped from his hands.