2 Corinthians 11

Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

I wish you could tolerate my foolishness just a bit longer; please, bear with me.

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

I deeply care for you with a divine passion, for I've promised you to one partner, aiming to present you pure and untouched to Christ.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

I worry that just as the serpent tricked Eve with his cunning, your thoughts might be led astray from the pure and simple truth found in Christ.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

If someone comes preaching about a different Jesus, or a different spirit or gospel than the one we've taught you, you might be tempted to listen to them.

For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

I believe I was in no way inferior to the most esteemed apostles.

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

Even if I'm not a polished speaker, my understanding is not lacking. We have shown ourselves completely to you in every way.

Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

Did I do wrong by humbling myself to lift you up, simply because I shared God's message without asking for anything in return?

I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

I took from other churches, accepting their offerings, all to serve you better.

And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

When I was with you, even in need, I never burdened anyone. My needs were met by friends from Macedonia. I've always avoided being a burden to you and I promise to continue doing so.

As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

With Christ's truth living in me, no one can silence my proud declarations in Achaia.

Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

Why? Is it because I don't love you? God knows I do!

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

I'll continue doing what I do, to prevent those seeking an opportunity from finding one. So that their pride may reveal them to be just like us.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

Beware, for there are pretenders, dishonest souls, masquerading as messengers of Christ.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Don't be surprised; even Satan can disguise himself as a beacon of hope.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

So, it's not surprising if his servants disguise themselves as servants of good. But remember, they will be judged by their actions.

I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

I insist, don't consider me a fool. But if you do, humor me and let me express my pride a bit.

That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

I'm not speaking with divine wisdom, but rather, I'm expressing myself in a rather foolish, self-assured manner.

Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

Seeing that many boast about their worldly credentials, I too will boast about mine.

For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

You tolerate foolishness with ease, believing you are wise.

For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

You even put up with it when someone enslaves you, exploits you, takes from you, arrogantly elevates himself, or slaps you in the face.

I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

I talk about criticism as if we were powerless. But wherever anyone dares to be brave, even if it sounds silly, I too am brave.

Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

Do they identify as Hebrews? I do too. Do they call themselves Israelites? That's me as well. Do they descend from Abraham? I share that lineage too.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

Do they serve Christ? I may sound foolish, but I serve Him even more. I've worked harder, been beaten more times than I can count, been imprisoned more often, and faced death repeatedly.

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

I was whipped by the Jews five times, each time receiving 39 lashes.

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

Three times, I felt the sting of rods against my skin, once I endured the pain of stones hurled at me. Three times, I experienced the terror of shipwreck, and for a day and a night, I was lost in the vast, unforgiving sea.

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

Often traveling, facing dangers on water, threats from robbers, betrayal by my own people, hostility from foreigners, risks in the city, dangers in the wilderness, perils at sea, and deceit from those pretending to be brothers.

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

In constant fatigue and agony, often staying awake, frequently hungry and thirsty, often fasting, and enduring the cold and exposure.

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Apart from external issues, I am constantly burdened with the daily concerns of all the churches.

Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

Who suffers, and I don't feel their pain? Who is led into sin, and I don't burn inside?

If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

If I must boast, I will proudly speak of my struggles and weaknesses.

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

The eternal and blessed God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, knows in His heart that I am not lying.

In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

In Damascus, the governor, loyal to King Aretas, had the city under tight guard, eager to capture me.

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

In a basket, through a window, I was gently lowered down the wall, narrowly evading his grasp.