Many are bragging the way the people of the world do. So I will brag like that too.

既有好些人凭着血气自夸，我也要自夸了。

既然有好些人凭着血气在夸口，我也要夸口了。

既然有好些人凭着血气在夸口，我也要夸口了。

既然许多人凭血气夸口，我当然也可以夸口。

既然有许多人按着世俗的标准夸口，我也要夸口。

既然有许多人按人的标准自夸，我也要自夸了，

既有好些人憑着血氣自誇，我也要自誇了。

既然有好些人憑着血氣在誇口，我也要誇口了。

既然有好些人憑着血氣在誇口，我也要誇口了。

既然許多人憑血氣誇口，我當然也可以誇口。

既然有許多人按著世俗的標準誇口，我也要誇口。

既有許多人以屬肉體之事而誇口，我也要誇口。

既然有許多人按人的標準自誇，我也要自誇了，

既多有依形軀而誇者、則我亦誇矣、

如眾以外貌自詡、則吾亦可自詡、

有多人以外貌自誇、則我亦自誇、

方今以身世自誇者多矣、吾亦欲一誇焉。

Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast.

Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.

And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too.

Since many boast according to the flesh, I will also boast.

Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.

Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.

Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

Since many boast in an unspiritual way, I will also boast.

Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

Since many are boasting according to human standards, I too will boast.

Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast.

I will brag about a man like that. But I won’t brag about myself. I will brag only about how weak I am.Suppose I decide to brag. That would not make me a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I don’t brag, so that no one will think more of me than they should. People should judge me by what I do and say.

I don’t dare to compare myself with those who praise themselves. I’m not that kind of person. They measure themselves by themselves. They compare themselves with themselves. When they do that, they are not wise.But I won’t brag more than I should. God himself has given me an opportunity for serving. I will only brag about what I have done with that opportunity. This opportunity for serving also includes you.I am not going too far in my bragging. I would be going too far if I hadn’t come to where you live. But I did get there with the good news about Christ.And I won’t brag about work done by others. If I did, I would be bragging more than I should. As your faith continues to grow, I hope that my work among you will greatly increase.Then I will be able to preach the good news in the areas beyond you. I don’t want to brag about work already done in someone else’s territory.But,“ The one who brags should brag about what the Lord has done.”( Jeremiah 9:24)Those who praise themselves are not accepted. Those the Lord praises are accepted.

And I will keep on doing what I’m doing. That will stop those who claim they have things to brag about. They think they have a chance to be considered equal with us.

It is written,“ All people are like grass. All their glory is like the flowers in the field. The grass dries up. The flowers fall to the ground.

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 have made a fool of myself. But you made me do it. You should have praised me. Even though I am nothing, I am in no way less important than the“ super- apostles.”

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.

But he said to me,“ My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So I am very happy to brag about how weak I am. Then Christ’s power can rest on me.

The Lord says,“ Do not let wise people brag about how wise they are. Do not let strong people boast about how strong they are. Do not let rich people brag about how rich they are.But here is what the one who brags should boast about. They should brag that they have the understanding to know me. I want them to know that I am the Lord. No matter what I do on earth, I am always kind, fair and right. And I take delight in this,” announces the Lord.

We are fools for Christ. But you are so wise in Christ! We are weak. But you are so strong! You are honored. But we are looked down on!