16

I say again, Let me not seem foolish to anyone but if I do, put up with me as such, so that I may take a little glory to myself.

17

What I am now saying is not by the order of the Lord, but as a foolish person, taking credit to myself, as it seems.

18

Seeing that there are those who take credit to themselves after the flesh, I will do the same.

19

For you put up with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves.

20

You put up with a man if he makes servants of you, if he makes profit out of you, if he makes you prisoners, if he puts himself in a high place, if he gives you blows on the face.

21

I say this by way of shaming ourselves, as if we had been feeble. But if anyone puts himself forward (I am talking like a foolish person), I will do the same.

22

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

23

Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking foolishly) I am more so I have had more experience of hard work, of prisons, of blows more than measure, of death.

24

Five times the Jews gave me forty blows but one.

25

Three times I was whipped with rods, once I was stoned, three times the ship I was in came to destruction at sea, a night and a day I have been in the water

26

In frequent travels, in dangers on rivers, in dangers from outlaws, in dangers from my countrymen, in dangers from the Gentiles, in dangers in the town, in dangers in the waste land, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers

27

In hard work and weariness, in frequent watchings, going without food and drink, cold and in need of clothing.

28

In addition to all the other things, there is that which comes on me every day, the care of all the churches.

29

Who is feeble and I am not feeble? who is in danger of falling, and I am not angry?

30

If I have to take credit to myself, I will do so in the things in which I am feeble.

31

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be praise for ever, is witness that the things which I say are true.

32

In Damascus, the ruler under Aretas the king kept watch over the town of the people of Damascus, in order to take me:

33

And being let down in a basket from the wall through a window, I got free from his hands.