Here is what we take pride in. Our sense of what is right and wrong tells us how we have acted. We have lived with honor and godly honesty. We have depended on God’s grace and not on the world’s wisdom. We lived that way most of all when we were dealing with you.

我们所夸的是自己的良心，见证我们凭着神的圣洁和诚实；在世为人不靠人的聪明，乃靠神的恩惠，向你们更是这样。

我们所夸的是：我们在世为人，特别是跟你们的关系，是凭着上帝所赐的坦率和真诚，不是靠人的聪明，而是靠上帝的恩惠；这是我们的良心可以作证的。

我们所夸的是：我们在世为人，特别是跟你们的关系，是凭着神所赐的坦率和真诚，不是靠人的聪明，而是靠神的恩惠；这是我们的良心可以作证的。

我们感到自豪的是：我们本着上帝所赐的圣洁和诚实为人处世，倚靠祂的恩典，不倚靠人的聪明才智，对待你们更是这样。这一点，我们的良心可以作证。

我们引以为荣的，就是我们处世为人，是本着神的圣洁和真诚，不是靠着人的聪明，而是靠着神的恩典，对你们更是这样，这是我们的良心可以作证的。

我们所夸耀的是这一点：我们的良心见证了我们在世上行事为人带着属神的忠实和真诚，不是靠属肉体的智慧，而是靠神的恩典；对你们更是如此。

我們所誇的是自己的良心，見證我們憑着神的聖潔和誠實；在世為人不靠人的聰明，乃靠神的恩惠，向你們更是這樣。

我們所誇的是：我們在世為人，特別是跟你們的關係，是憑着上帝所賜的坦率和真誠，不是靠人的聰明，而是靠上帝的恩惠；這是我們的良心可以作證的。

我們所誇的是：我們在世為人，特別是跟你們的關係，是憑着神所賜的坦率和真誠，不是靠人的聰明，而是靠神的恩惠；這是我們的良心可以作證的。

我們感到自豪的是：我們本著上帝所賜的聖潔和誠實為人處世，倚靠祂的恩典，不倚靠人的聰明才智，對待你們更是這樣。這一點，我們的良心可以作證。

我們引以為榮的，就是我們處世為人，是本著神的聖潔和真誠，不是靠著人的聰明，而是靠著神的恩典，對你們更是這樣，這是我們的良心可以作證的。

我們所誇耀的是這一點：我們良知的明證指出我們在世界上之起居為人、是怎樣本着上帝所賜的聖善和純潔，不是本着屬肉體的智慧，乃是本着上帝的恩；對於你們、更是如此。

我們所誇耀的是這一點：我們的良心見證了我們在世上行事為人帶著屬神的忠實和真誠，不是靠屬肉體的智慧，而是靠神的恩典；對你們更是如此。

夫我所以誇者、乃良心作證、非恃形軀之智、惟恃上帝之恩、以上帝所賦之聖與誠、為人於世、於爾曹為尤甚、

我非恃人智、恃上帝恩、以上帝所賦之丹心誠意、往來於世、在爾間為尤甚、此我所喜、心所證也、

我之良心、證我處世為人、常以天主所賜之誠心實意、不恃肉體之智慧、惟恃天主之恩寵、我在爾中更如是、此乃我所誇者也、

蓋吾儕所引以為榮、而問心無疚者、則吾儕立身處世、尤在爾我之間、一秉天主之正直及至誠、不徇私智、惟恃天主聖寵而已。

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.

Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom but by God’s grace.

For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.

For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you- ward.

For this is our confidence: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly wisdom but by God’s grace.

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God– not by human wisdom but by the grace of God– we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

Unlike many people, we aren’t selling God’s word to make money. In fact, it is just the opposite. Because of Christ we speak honestly before God. We speak like people God has sent.

That is what we speak about. We don’t use words taught to us by people. We use words taught to us by the Holy Spirit. We use the words taught by the Spirit to explain spiritual truths.

Is anyone among you wise and understanding? That person should show it by living a good life. A wise person isn’t proud when they do good deeds.But suppose your hearts are jealous and bitter. Suppose you are concerned only about getting ahead. Then don’t brag about it. And don’t say no to the truth.Wisdom like this doesn’t come down from heaven. It belongs to the earth. It doesn’t come from the Holy Spirit. It comes from the devil.Are you jealous? Are you concerned only about getting ahead? Then your life will be a mess. You will be doing all kinds of evil things.But the wisdom that comes from heaven is pure. That’s the most important thing about it. And that’s not all. It also loves peace. It thinks about others. It obeys. It is full of mercy and good fruit. It is fair. It doesn’t pretend to be what it is not.Those who make peace plant it like a seed. They will harvest a crop of right living.

Pray for us. We feel sure we have done what is right. We desire to live as we should in every way.

Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin.“ My brothers,” he said,“ I have always done my duty to God. To this day I feel that I have done nothing wrong.”

Instead, we have given up doing secret and shameful things. We don’t twist God’s word. In fact, we do just the opposite. We present the truth plainly. In the sight of God, we make our appeal to everyone’s sense of what is right and wrong.

So I always try not to do anything wrong in the eyes of God or in the eyes of people.

But he knows every step I take. When he has tested me, I’ll come out as pure as gold.My feet have closely followed his steps. I’ve stayed on his path without turning away.I haven’t disobeyed his commands. I’ve treasured his words more than my daily bread.

You are witnesses of how we lived among you believers. God is also a witness that we were holy and godly and without blame.

All of this happened to us, even though we had not forgotten you. We had not broken the covenant you made with us.Our hearts had not turned away from you. Our feet had not wandered from your path.But you crushed us and left us to the wild dogs. You covered us over with deep darkness.We didn’t forget our God. We didn’t spread out our hands in prayer to a false god.If we had, God would have discovered it. He knows the secrets of our hearts.

The water of the flood is a picture. It is a picture of the baptism that now saves you too. This baptism has nothing to do with removing dirt from your body. Instead, it promises God that you will keep a clear sense of right and wrong. This baptism saves you by the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

Love is the purpose of my command. Love comes from a pure heart. It comes from a good sense of what is right and wrong. It comes from faith that is honest and true.

So let us keep the Feast, but not with the old bread made with yeast. The yeast I’m talking about is hatred and evil. Let us keep the Feast with bread made without yeast. Let us keep it with bread that is honesty and truth.

I didn’t preach my message with clever and compelling words. Instead, my preaching showed the Holy Spirit’s power.This was so that your faith would be based on God’s power. Your faith would not be based on human wisdom.

I am not commanding you to do it. But I want to test you. I want to find out if you really love God. I want to compare your love with that of others.

People like that are not serving Christ our Lord. They are serving only themselves. With smooth talk and with words they don’t mean they fool people who don’t know any better.Everyone has heard that you obey God. So you have filled me with joy. I want you to be wise about what is good. And I want you to have nothing to do with what is evil.

But Eve’s mind was tricked by the snake’s clever lies. And here’s what I’m afraid of. Your minds will also somehow be led astray. They will be led away from your true and pure love for Christ.

I don’t feel I have done anything wrong. But that doesn’t mean I’m not guilty. The Lord judges me.

But because of God’s grace I am what I am. And his grace was not wasted on me. No, I have worked harder than all the other apostles. But I didn’t do the work. God’s grace was with me.

Then you will be able to know what is best. Then you will be pure and without blame for the day that Christ returns.

I’ll never admit you people are right. Until I die, I’ll say I’m telling the truth.I’ll continue to say I’m right. I’ll never let go of that. I won’t blame myself as long as I live.

Even if God kills me, I’ll still put my hope in him. I’ll argue my case in front of him.

So I will be very happy to spend everything I have for you. I will even spend myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?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.

So remain strong in the faith. Put the belt of truth around your waist. Put the armor of godliness on your chest.

Do what is good. Set an example for them in everything. When you teach, be honest and serious.

“ Lord, please remember how faithful I’ve been to you. I’ve lived the way you wanted me to. I’ve served you with all my heart. I’ve done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Lord my God, suppose I have done something wrong. Suppose I am guilty.Or I have done evil to my friend. Or I have robbed my enemy without any reason.Then let my enemy chase me and catch me. Let him stomp me into the ground. Let him bury me in the dust.

“ I made an agreement with my eyes. I promised not to look at a young woman with impure thoughts.What do we receive from God above? What do we get from the Mighty One in heaven?Sinful people are destroyed. Trouble comes to those who do what is wrong.Doesn’t God see how I live? Doesn’t he count every step I take?“ I haven’t told any lies. My feet haven’t hurried to cheat others.So let God weigh me in honest scales. Then he’ll know I haven’t done anything wrong.Suppose my steps have turned away from the right path. Suppose my heart has wanted what my eyes have seen. Or suppose my hands have become‘ unclean.’Then may others eat what I’ve planted. May my crops be pulled up by the roots.“ Suppose my heart has been tempted by a woman. Or suppose I’ve prowled around my neighbor’s home.Then may my wife grind another man’s grain. May other men sleep with her.Wanting another woman would have been an evil thing. It would have been a sin that should be judged.It’s like a fire that burns down to the grave. It would have caused my crops to be pulled up by the roots.“ Suppose I haven’t treated any of my male and female servants fairly when they’ve brought charges against me.Then what will I do when God opposes me? What answer will I give him when he asks me to explain myself?Didn’t he who made me make my servants also? Didn’t the same God form us inside our mothers?“ I haven’t said no to what poor people have wanted. I haven’t let widows lose their hope.I haven’t kept my bread to myself. I’ve shared it with children whose fathers had died.From the time I was young, I’ve helped those widows. I’ve raised those children as a father would.Suppose I’ve seen people dying because they didn’t have enough clothes. I’ve seen needy people who didn’t have enough to keep warm.And they didn’t give me their blessing when I warmed them with wool from my sheep.Suppose I’ve raised my hand against children whose fathers have died. And I did it because I knew I had power in the courts.Then let my arm fall from my shoulder. Let it be broken off at the joint.I was afraid God would destroy me. His glory terrifies me. So I’d never do things like that.“ Suppose I’ve put my trust in gold. I’ve said to pure gold,‘ You make me feel secure.’And I’m happy because I’m so wealthy. I’m glad because my hands have earned so much.Suppose I’ve worshiped the sun in all its glory. I’ve bowed down to the moon in all its beauty.My heart has been secretly tempted. My hand has thrown kisses to the sun and moon.Then these things would have been sins that should be judged. And I wouldn’t have been faithful to God in heaven.“ I wasn’t happy when hard times came to my enemies. I didn’t enjoy seeing the trouble they had.I didn’t allow my mouth to sin by asking for bad things to happen to them.The workers in my house always said,‘ Job always gives plenty of food to everyone.’No stranger ever had to spend the night in the street. My door was always open to travelers.I didn’t hide my sin as other people do. I didn’t hide my guilt in my heart.I was never afraid of the crowd. I never worried that my relatives might hate me. I didn’t have to keep quiet or stay inside.“ I wish someone would listen to me! I’m signing my name to everything I’ve said. I hope the Mighty One will give me his answer. I hope the one who brings charges against me will write them down.I’ll wear them on my shoulder. I’ll put them on my head like a crown.I’ll give that person a report of every step I take. I’ll present it to him like I would to a ruler.“ Suppose my land cries out against me. And all its soil is wet with tears.Suppose I’ve used up its crops without paying for them. Or I’ve broken the spirit of its renters.Then let thorns grow instead of wheat. Let stinkweed come up instead of barley.” The words of Job end here.

Live so that you don’t have to feel you’ve done anything wrong. Some people may say evil things about your good conduct as believers in Christ. If they do, they will be put to shame for speaking like this about you.

When I planned all this, was I ready to change my mind for no good reason? No. I don’t make my plans the way the world makes theirs. In the same breath the world says both,“ Yes! Yes!” and“ No! No!”

Each person should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves. They won’t be comparing themselves to someone else.

But God continues to give us more grace. That’s why Scripture says,“ God opposes those who are proud. But he gives grace to those who are humble.”( Proverbs 3:34)

“ So have respect for the Lord. Serve him. Be completely faithful to him. Throw away the gods your people worshiped east of the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord.

I speak the truth in Christ. I am not lying. My mind tells me that what I say is true. It is guided by the Holy Spirit.

Then you will hold on to faith. You will hold on to a good sense of what is right and wrong. Some have not accepted this knowledge of right and wrong. So they have destroyed their faith. They are like a ship that has sunk.Hymenaeus and Alexander are among them. I have handed them over to Satan. That will teach them not to speak evil things against God.

I am coming to see you. Please don’t make me be as bold as I expect to be toward some people. They think that I live the way the people of this world live.I do live in the world. But I don’t fight my battles the way the people of the world do.The weapons I fight with are not the weapons the world uses. In fact, it is just the opposite. My weapons have the power of God to destroy the camps of the enemy.