2Cor.11.1
Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2Cor.11.1
Will you put up with a little foolish aside from me? Please, just for a moment.
2Cor.11.1
I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that.
2Cor.11.1
Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly--and indeed you do bear with me.
2Cor.11.1
I hope you will be patient with me as I keep on talking like a fool. Please bear with me.
2Cor.11.2
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.
2Cor.11.2
The thing that has me so upset is that I care about you so much--this is the passion of God burning inside me! I promised your hand in marriage to Christ, presented you as a pure virgin to her husband.
2Cor.11.2
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.
2Cor.11.2
For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2Cor.11.2
I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ.
2Cor.11.3
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.
2Cor.11.3
And now I'm afraid that exactly as the Snake seduced Eve with his smooth patter, you are being lured away from the simple purity of your love for Christ.
2Cor.11.3
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
2Cor.11.3
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2Cor.11.3
But I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent.
2Cor.11.4
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.
2Cor.11.4
It seems that if someone shows up preaching quite another Jesus than we preached--different spirit, different message--you put up with him quite nicely.
2Cor.11.4
For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
2Cor.11.4
For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!
2Cor.11.4
You seem to believe whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach about a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.
2Cor.11.5
For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
2Cor.11.5
But if you put up with these big-shot "apostles," why can't you put up with simple me? I'm as good as they are.
2Cor.11.5
But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles."
2Cor.11.5
For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.
2Cor.11.5
But I don't think I am inferior to these "super apostles."
2Cor.11.6
But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
2Cor.11.6
It's true that I don't have their voice, haven't mastered that smooth eloquence that impresses you so much. But when I do open my mouth, I at least know what I'm talking about. We haven't kept anything back. We let you in on everything.
2Cor.11.6
I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.
2Cor.11.6
Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.
2Cor.11.6
I may not be a trained speaker, but I know what I am talking about. I think you realize this by now, for we have proved it again and again.
2Cor.11.7
Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
2Cor.11.7
I wonder, did I make a bad mistake in proclaiming God's Message to you without asking for something in return, serving you free of charge so that you wouldn't be inconvenienced by me?
2Cor.11.7
Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?
2Cor.11.7
Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
2Cor.11.7
Did I do wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God's Good News to you without expecting anything in return?
2Cor.11.8
I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
2Cor.11.8
It turns out that the other churches paid my way so that you could have a free ride.
2Cor.11.8
I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you.
2Cor.11.8
I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.
2Cor.11.8
I "robbed" other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost.
2Cor.11.9
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.
2Cor.11.9
Not once during the time I lived among you did anyone have to lift a finger to help me out. My needs were always supplied by the Christians from Macedonia province. I was careful never to be a burden to you, and I never will be, you can count on it.
2Cor.11.9
And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.
2Cor.11.9
And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.
2Cor.11.9
And when I was with you and didn't have enough to live on, I did not ask you to help me. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me another gift. I have never yet asked you for any support, and I never will.
2Cor.11.10
As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
2Cor.11.10
With Christ as my witness, it's a point of honor with me, and I'm not going to keep it quiet just to protect you from what the neighbors will think.
2Cor.11.10
As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine.
2Cor.11.10
As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
2Cor.11.10
As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, I will never stop boasting about this all over Greece.
2Cor.11.11
Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
2Cor.11.11
It's not that I don't love you; God knows I do.
2Cor.11.11
Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
2Cor.11.11
Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!
2Cor.11.11
Why? Because I don't love you? God knows I do.
2Cor.11.12
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.
2Cor.11.12
I'm just trying to keep things open and honest between us. And I'm not changing my position on this. I'd die before taking your money. I'm giving nobody grounds for lumping me in with those money-grubbing "preachers," vaunting themselves as something special.
2Cor.11.12
And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.
2Cor.11.12
But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.
2Cor.11.12
But I will continue doing this to cut the ground out from under the feet of those who boast that their work is just like ours.
2Cor.11.13
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Cor.11.13
They're a sorry bunch--pseudo-apostles, lying preachers, crooked workers--posing as Christ's agents but sham to the core.
2Cor.11.13
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
2Cor.11.13
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
2Cor.11.13
These people are false apostles. They have fooled you by disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
2Cor.11.14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Cor.11.14
And no wonder! Satan does it all the time, dressing up as a beautiful angel of light.
2Cor.11.14
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
2Cor.11.14
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
2Cor.11.14
But I am not surprised! Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.
2Cor.11.15
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.
2Cor.11.15
So it shouldn't surprise us when his servants masquerade as servants of God. But they're not getting by with anything. They'll pay for it in the end.
2Cor.11.15
It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
2Cor.11.15
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
2Cor.11.15
So it is no wonder his servants can also do it by pretending to be godly ministers. In the end they will get every bit of punishment their wicked deeds deserve.
2Cor.11.16
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.
2Cor.11.16
Let me come back to where I started--and don't hold it against me if I continue to sound a little foolish. Or if you'd rather, just accept that I am a fool and let me rant on a little.
2Cor.11.16
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.
2Cor.11.16
I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.
2Cor.11.16
Once again, don't think that I have lost my wits to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little.
2Cor.11.17
That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
2Cor.11.17
I didn't learn this kind of talk from Christ.
2Cor.11.17
In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
2Cor.11.17
What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
2Cor.11.17
Such bragging is not something the Lord wants, but I am acting like a fool.
2Cor.11.18
Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
2Cor.11.18
Oh, no, it's a bad habit I picked up from the three-ring preachers that are so popular these days.
2Cor.11.18
Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast.
2Cor.11.18
Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.
2Cor.11.18
And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too.
2Cor.11.19
For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
2Cor.11.19
Since you sit there in the judgment seat observing all these shenanigans, you can afford to humor an occasional fool who happens along.
2Cor.11.19
You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!
2Cor.11.19
For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise!
2Cor.11.19
After all, you, who think you are so wise, enjoy listening to fools!
2Cor.11.20
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.
2Cor.11.20
You have such admirable tolerance for impostors who rob your freedom, rip you off, steal you blind, put you down--even slap your face!
2Cor.11.20
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.
2Cor.11.20
For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.
2Cor.11.20
You put up with it when they make you their slaves, take everything you have, take advantage of you, put on airs, and slap you in the face.
2Cor.11.21
I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
2Cor.11.21
I shouldn't admit it to you, but our stomachs aren't strong enough to tolerate that kind of stuff. Since you admire the egomaniacs of the pulpit so much (remember, this is your old friend, the fool, talking), let me try my hand at it.
2Cor.11.21
To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!
2Cor.11.21
To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold--I speak foolishly--I am bold also.
2Cor.11.21
I'm ashamed to say that we were not strong enough to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about--I'm talking like a fool again--I can boast about it, too.
2Cor.11.22
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
2Cor.11.22
Do they brag of being Hebrews, Israelites, the pure race of Abraham? I'm their match.
2Cor.11.22
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.
2Cor.11.22
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
2Cor.11.22
They say they are Hebrews, do they? So am I. And they say they are Israelites? So am I. And they are descendants of Abraham? So am I.
2Cor.11.23
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.
2Cor.11.23
Are they servants of Christ? I can go them one better. (I can't believe I'm saying these things. It's crazy to talk this way! But I started, and I'm going to finish.) I've worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death's door time after time.
2Cor.11.23
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.
2Cor.11.23
Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
2Cor.11.23
They say they serve Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.
2Cor.11.24
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
2Cor.11.24
I've been flogged five times with the Jews' thirty-nine lashes,
2Cor.11.24
Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
2Cor.11.24
From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
2Cor.11.24
Five different times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes.
2Cor.11.25
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;
2Cor.11.25
beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I've been shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day.
2Cor.11.25
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,
2Cor.11.25
Three 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;
2Cor.11.25
Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.
2Cor.11.26
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;
2Cor.11.26
In hard traveling year in and year out, I've had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I've been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers.
2Cor.11.26
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.
2Cor.11.26
in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
2Cor.11.26
I have traveled many weary miles. I have faced danger from flooded rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the stormy seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be Christians but are not.
2Cor.11.27
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
2Cor.11.27
I've known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather.
2Cor.11.27
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.
2Cor.11.27
in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--
2Cor.11.27
I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food. Often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
2Cor.11.28
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
2Cor.11.28
And that's not the half of it, when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches.
2Cor.11.28
Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
2Cor.11.28
besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
2Cor.11.28
Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of how the churches are getting along.
2Cor.11.29
Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
2Cor.11.29
When someone gets to the end of his rope, I feel the desperation in my bones. When someone is duped into sin, an angry fire burns in my gut.
2Cor.11.29
Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
2Cor.11.29
Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
2Cor.11.29
Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
2Cor.11.30
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
2Cor.11.30
If I have to "brag" about myself, I'll brag about the humiliations that make me like Jesus.
2Cor.11.30
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
2Cor.11.30
If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
2Cor.11.30
If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.
2Cor.11.31
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
2Cor.11.31
The eternal and blessed God and Father of our Master Jesus knows I'm not lying.
2Cor.11.31
The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.
2Cor.11.31
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
2Cor.11.31
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows I tell the truth.
2Cor.11.32
In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
2Cor.11.32
Remember the time I was in Damascus and the governor of King Aretas posted guards at the city gates to arrest me?
2Cor.11.32
In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.
2Cor.11.32
In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
2Cor.11.32
When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me.
2Cor.11.33
And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
2Cor.11.33
I crawled through a window in the wall, was let down in a basket, and had to run for my life.
2Cor.11.33
But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
2Cor.11.33
but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
2Cor.11.33
But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall, and that's how I got away!
