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

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

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

Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a fellow believer has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her.

For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin— a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

We would be embarrassed— not to mention your own embarrassment— if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them!

Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But the Lord in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you.

I say this as a concession, not as a command.

And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too.After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face.I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too“ weak” to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about— I’m talking like a fool again— I dare to boast about it, too.Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty nine lashes.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.I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from 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 seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.