When I brag about myself like this, I’m not talking the way the Lord would. I’m talking like a fool.

我说的话不是奉主命说的，乃是像愚妄人放胆自夸；

我说的话不是奉主的权柄说的，而是像愚蠢人具有自信地放胆夸口。

我说的话不是奉主的权柄说的，而是像愚蠢人具有自信地放胆夸口。

我这样说，并不是主的意思，而是像一个傻瓜一样夸口。

我这样满有自信地夸口，不是照着主所吩咐的，而是好像愚昧人在说话。

我现在所说的，不是按照主说的，而是像一个愚妄人那样自信夸耀。

我說的話不是奉主命說的，乃是像愚妄人放膽自誇；

我說的話不是奉主的權柄說的，而是像愚蠢人具有自信地放膽誇口。

我說的話不是奉主的權柄說的，而是像愚蠢人具有自信地放膽誇口。

我這樣說，並不是主的意思，而是像一個傻瓜一樣誇口。

我這樣滿有自信地誇口，不是照著主所吩咐的，而是好像愚昧人在說話。

我所說的，不是依主的權柄而說的；我是好像有愚氣、憑着這種誇口的自信來說的。

我現在所說的，不是按照主說的，而是像一個愚妄人那樣自信誇耀。

此言、非主命也、乃若愚者自信而誇、

余今所言、非主命也、乃若狂而大詡、

今我所言、非按主命而言、乃似狂者、大膽自誇、

惟須預為聲明者、吾今之所言、非依主之道、乃一發心中之狂愚、故姑妄言之耳。

In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool.

What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool.

Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool.

What I am saying in this matter of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but as it were, foolishly.

What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.

What I say in this matter of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but foolishly.

That which I speak, I speak[ it] not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

What I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness.

That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

I also have something to say to everyone else. It is from me, not a direct command from the Lord. Suppose a brother has a wife who is not a believer. If she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

But we have been truly circumcised. We serve God by the power of his Spirit. We boast about what Christ Jesus has done. We don’t put our trust in who we are or what we can do.I have many reasons to trust in who I am and what I have done. Someone else may think they have reasons to trust in these things. But I have even more.I was circumcised on the eighth day. I am part of the people of Israel. I am from the tribe of Benjamin. I am a pure Hebrew. As far as the law is concerned, I am a Pharisee.As far as being committed is concerned, I opposed and attacked the church. As far as keeping the law is concerned, I kept it perfectly.

Suppose people from Macedonia come with me and find out that you are not prepared. Then we, as well as you, would be ashamed of being so certain.

Now I want to say something about virgins. I have no direct command from the Lord. But I give my opinion. Because of the Lord’s mercy, I give it as one who can be trusted.

I say those things to you as my advice, not as a command.

Many are bragging the way the people of the world do. So I will brag like that too.You are so wise! You gladly put up with fools!In fact, you even put up with anyone who makes you a slave or uses you. You put up with those who take advantage of you. You put up with those who claim to be better than you. You put up with those who slap you in the face.I’m ashamed to have to say that I was too weak for that! Whatever anyone else dares to brag about, I also dare to brag about. I’m speaking like a fool!Are they Hebrews? So am I. Do they belong to the people of Israel? So do I. Are they Abraham’s children? So am I.Are they serving Christ? I am serving him even more. I’m out of my mind to talk like this! I have worked much harder. I have been in prison more often. I have suffered terrible beatings. Again and again I almost died.Five times the Jews gave me 39 strokes with a whip.Three times I was beaten with sticks. Once they tried to kill me by throwing stones at me. Three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.I have had to keep on the move. I have been in danger from rivers. I have been in danger from robbers. I have been in danger from my fellow Jews and in danger from Gentiles. I have been in danger in the city, in the country, and at sea. I have been in danger from people who pretended they were believers.I have worked very hard. Often I have gone without sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty. Often I have gone without food. I have been cold and naked.