That is what I say to stand up for myself when people judge me.

我对那盘问我的人就是这样分诉：

对那些质问我的人，这就是我的答辩。

对那些质问我的人，这就是我的答辩。

对那些责难我的人，我的答复是这样：

对那些盘问我的人，这就是我的答辩。

对那些评断我的人，我的辩护是这样的：

我對那盤問我的人就是這樣分訴：

對那些質問我的人，這就是我的答辯。

對那些質問我的人，這就是我的答辯。

對那些責難我的人，我的答覆是這樣：

對那些盤問我的人，這就是我的答辯。

對那些審斷我的人呢、我的分訴是這樣說：

對那些評斷我的人，我的辯護是這樣的：

有詰我者、我以此白之、

有詰我者、我以是告之、

有詰我者、我即以此答之、

亦即吾所持以答人之質問者也。

This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me.

This is my defense to those who would examine me.

This is my answer to those who question my authority.

My defense to those who examine me is this:

My defense to those who examine me is this:

My defense to those who examine me is this:

My defence to them that examine me is this.

My defense to those who examine me is this:

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

This is my defense to those who examine me.

My defense to those who examine me is this:

Suppose anyone thinks they are a prophet. Or suppose they think they have other gifts given by the Holy Spirit. They should agree that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you. I love you with all my heart. I may be held by chains, or I may be standing up for the truth of the good news. Either way, all of you share in God’s grace together with me.

That’s why I write these things before I come to you. Then when I do come, I won’t have to be hard on you when I use my authority. The Lord gave me the authority to build you up. He didn’t give it to me to tear you down.

You are asking me to prove that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you. He is powerful among you.

You are judging only by how things look on the surface. Suppose someone is sure they belong to Christ. Then they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.Do I brag too much about the authority the Lord gave me? If I do, it’s because I want to build you up, not tear you down. And I’m not ashamed of that kind of bragging.

In any case, I haven’t caused you any expense. But I’m so tricky! I have caught you by tricking you! Or so you think!Did I take advantage of you through any of the men I sent to you?I asked Titus to go to you. And I sent our brother with him. Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t we walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?All this time, have you been thinking that I’ve been speaking up for myself? No, I’ve been speaking with God as my witness. I’ve been speaking like a believer in Christ. Dear friends, everything I do is to help you become stronger.

“ I told them that this is not the way Romans do things. We don’t judge people before they have faced those bringing charges against them. They must have a chance to argue against the charges for themselves.

“ Brothers and fathers,” Paul began,“ listen to me now. I want to give you reasons for my actions.”

But the others preach about Christ only to get ahead. They preach Christ for the wrong reasons. They think they can stir up trouble for me while I am being held by chains.

Take a good look at yourselves to see if you are really believers. Test yourselves. Don’t you realize that Christ Jesus is in you? Unless, of course, you fail the test!

The first time I was put on trial, no one came to help me. Everyone deserted me. I hope they will be forgiven for it.