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16 Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if otherwise, even as a fool receive me, that I also a little may boast.

17 That which I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this the confidence of boasting;

18 since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast:

19 for gladly do ye bear with the fools -- being wise,

20 for ye bear, if any one is bringing you under bondage, if any one doth devour, if any one doth take away, if any one doth exalt himself, if any one on the face doth smite you;

21 in reference to dishonour I speak, how that we were weak, and in whatever any one is bold -- in foolishness I say [it] -- I also am bold.

22 Hebrews are they? I also! Israelites are they? I also! seed of Abraham are they? I also!

23 ministrants of Christ are they? -- as beside myself I speak -- I more; in labours more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths many times;

24 from Jews five times forty [stripes] save one I did receive;

25 thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice was I shipwrecked, a night and a day in the deep I have passed;

26 journeyings many times, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from kindred, perils from nations, perils in city, perils in wilderness, perils in sea, perils among false brethren;

27 in laboriousness and painfulness, in watchings many times, in hunger and thirst, in fastings many times, in cold and nakedness;

28 apart from the things without -- the crowding upon me that is daily -- the care of all the assemblies.

29 Who is infirm, and I am not infirm? who is stumbled, and I am not fired;

30 if to boast it behoveth [me], of the things of my infirmity I will boast;

31 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ -- who is blessed to the ages -- hath known that I do not lie! --

32 In Damascus the ethnarch of Aretas the king was watching the city of the Damascenes, wishing to seize me,

33 and through a window in a rope basket I was let down, through the wall, and fled out of his hands.

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Paul Boasts About His Sufferings

16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool.(A) But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would,(B) but as a fool.(C) 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does,(D) I too will boast.(E) 19 You gladly put up with(F) fools since you are so wise!(G) 20 In fact, you even put up with(H) anyone who enslaves you(I) or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak(J) for that!

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.(K) 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I.(L) Are they Israelites? So am I.(M) Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.(N) 23 Are they servants of Christ?(O) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,(P) been in prison more frequently,(Q) been flogged more severely,(R) and been exposed to death again and again.(S) 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes(T) minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods,(U) once I was pelted with stones,(V) three times I was shipwrecked,(W) I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews,(X) in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,(Y) in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.(Z) 27 I have labored and toiled(AA) and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;(AB) I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.(AC) 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?(AD) Who is led into sin,(AE) and I do not inwardly burn?

30 If I must boast, I will boast(AF) of the things that show my weakness.(AG) 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever,(AH) knows(AI) that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.(AJ) 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.(AK)

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